Heat puts plants in danger

A desperate plea for help has been issued as a record dry spell in Christchurch puts a $20,000 regeneration project in jeopardy.

A rainless November and close to record high temperatures over the past week have caused serious concern for Summit Road Society members involved in restoring the Ohinetahi Reserve after February’s Port Hills fires.

A large number of the 5000 seedlings that were planted by volunteers in winter are ‘‘showing signs of stress’’.

Summit Road Society board member Paula Jameson said many of the young plants’ roots were not deep in the ground, which made it difficult to supply them with water. ‘‘Things are pretty critical, any more hot days could mean we lose a lot of the plants.’’

The steep, awkward terrain made carrying water to the seedlings difficult and accessing the area by truck impossible.

Jameson said it would be a ‘‘mammoth effort’’ to get enough water to the area.

‘‘I suspect it is going to be a long, ongoing saga. It’s disappointing but I think we just have to persevere.’’

The Summit Road Society is pleading for the public to fill up water containers in town, carry them to the seedlings in Ohinetahi Reserve and make sure each plant gets at least 1 litre each.

Jameson said the ideal situation would be to get a helicopter in to drop water on the plants. She said a monsoon bucket would wash rocks down the hill and water released from a herbicide sprayer would evaporate before getting to the plants so something in between was needed.

‘‘We have the funds for it we just need to find someone who can do it.’’