Restoring waterway health 1m at a time
Volunteers have been busy planting up the Silverstream Reserve with the help of school groups and others, but they still need help to reach their goal.
The planting project is part of a nationwide initiative to plant up 1 million metres of waterways and it has just one month to raise the necessary funding.
So far, more than 100m has been planted by the Silverstream Advisory Group and other volunteers including a significant boost from Clarkville School, Jehovah’s Witnesses, who took part in a planting day on Saturday.
More than 9,000 native plants have already been established in the reserve since 2006 but with 1.5 hectares (equivalent to 1.5 international rugby fields) to plant, more help would be gratefully accepted.
In particular, funding is required which will go towards site preparation, plants, contractors, materials and post-care maintenance.
The long-term goal is to plant the entire length of the waterway that runs through the reserve.
A mixture of native trees and plants has been chosen to help restore the stream and its surroundings.
Once mature, the trees and plants will create habitat for Tuna and Kanakana (lamprey), as well as providing food and nesting areas for Pukeko, Kereru, Bellbird, Fantail, Native Scaup and Paradise Shelduck.
The seedlings are locally sourced to ensure that they grow well in this area, and are representative of historic Canterbury Plains’ plant communities, including Kanuka, Toi Toi, Purei and large species like Kahikatea.
The reserve is managed by the Waimakariri District Council, with input from the local iwi. The management plan adopted by the district council in 2009 focuses on restoration and recreation.
The Million Metres Streams Project is the concept of the Sustainable Business Network and Enspiral after members became inspired by Te Awaroa, a movement to restore 1,000 rivers by 2050.
The pledge was in response to a 2013 warning from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
To donate to the Silverstream project, visit millionmetres.org.nz/openproject/the-silver-streamrestoration-project.