River planting is an ‘addiction’

It is a really positive sign to have seen so many people here... Dairy farmers are thinking about riparian plantings. Lisa Charmley

The Charmleys are becoming addicted to planting trees and shrubs along stream banks at their dairy farm near Te Rehunga in Tararua.

They are not alone as there was strong interest in a field day about riparian planting at their property near Dannevirke last week.

Lisa Charmley said about 40 people went to the field day at their family farm, owned by her and husband Paul Charmley.

‘‘It is a really positive sign to have seen so many people here. It was inspirational. Dairy farmers are thinking about riparian plantings’’

Lisa Charmley said she was asked many questions about plants and planting.

She said planting for her was so much more than a requirement and had become a passion.

Charmley said she was frustrated after buying bare-root natives which failed to establish and as a result decided to grow her own using cuttings and seedlings.

She started off small, growing about 50 plants in her first year.

Now, after three years, she grows about 1000 native plants a year for riparian planting.

‘‘The more we put in, the more addictive it is,’’ she said.

She estimates they had planted about 2000 plants over the past three years.

The Fonterra field day was about giving advice to farmers in the region on where and how to start riparian planting.

‘‘It’s all about encouraging others to make a start.’’