Taking time for native site care

A mid June Saturday delivered a classic North Canterbury winter’s morning of clear and crisp conditions, the ideal accompaniment for a session of native tree site care and plant rescue at Amberley Beach.

An enthusiastic bunch of people turned up to the Grierson Avenue restoration site, prepared to get their hands dirty.

Hurunui District Council’s Water and Land Coordinator Rima Herber was an instrumental part of the session, advising the group that rather than planting any more natives at the Council-owned Grierson Avenue restoration site this winter, a ‘site care’ and ‘plant rescue’ session was needed.

Loppers were used to cut the waist-high tree lupins down at ground level, smaller lupin plants were pulled out by the roots, weeding took place around the individual native seedlings, and plant guards were carefully put in place.

“It was a great morning, all working together to tend to the plants and weed the site,” she said.

After a couple of hours of satisfying and productive work, the locals relaxed on the veranda of Amberley Beach Community Hall for home made soup, compliments of Beach locals Bernie and John Hall.

“Just as lunch was finished the rain began again, with perfect timing,” said Rima.

Another working bee will be organised for a month’s time.