Neighbours excited by tree planting
One older neighbour wondered how tall the natives trees would grow. Told that in 400 years the to¯tara might be 30 metres and the kahikatea might be 60 metres, she laughed and said that wouldn’t bother her.
Lindsay is looking forward to ‘‘reclaiming the red zone for the people’’.
He did not want his last name printed but was ‘‘absolutely delighted’’ with the Forever Trees project sponsored by The Press, Christchurch City Council and charity Trees that Count to put 5000 native plants into the ground in the Burwood red zone on Sunday.
A pathway will be left close to the lake for dog walkers and joggers who use the area.
Lindsay lived across the street from the planting site and was ‘‘looking forward to seeing the red zone coming back into use’’.
This land was badly damaged in the 2010-2011 earthquakes and the Crown eventually bought the properties and demolished the houses. Most of the 22 properties backed onto Waika¯ ka¯ rikiHorseshoe Lake Reserve and the land has sat fenced and undeveloped since.
‘‘I think it’s great,’’ said neighbour Wayne Harris. He moved onto the street a few months ago from the Otago Peninsula and missed the native birds that came onto his section, including the pı¯wakawaka-fantails that tormented his cats.
He hoped the volunteer-planted natives would bring back the birds because they were ‘‘lovely things to have in the city’’.
Dan Andrews bought his house because it overlooks the planting site and Waika¯ ka¯ riki from an old sand dune. He said the land had been overgrown until recently and was excited that the no trespassing signs would come down.
Neighbours interviewed by The Press expressed general approval for the tree planting, even if they were measured in tone. ‘‘I don’t have a problem with it,’’ said one woman who declined to be named.
One man said he would miss having a flat, grassy area across the street from his house. It was a good place to kick around a ball and for the kids to play, he said.
One older neighbour wondered how tall the natives trees would grow. Told that in 400 years the to¯ tara might be 30 metres and the kahikatea might be 60 metres, she laughed and said that wouldn’t bother her.
Another neighbour expressed approval for the native plants, but wished the council had not removed some of the exotic trees that were growing on the sections.
Council removed exotic plants that were weedy or problematic, said head of parks Andrew Rutledge. As well, the willow trees growing in Horseshoe reserve were being poisoned and left to rot.
Trees that Count, the charity that aggregates donations and buys native plants, has funded the 5000 trees – half of the 10,000 it donated to O¯ tautahi in support of the city’s campaign to be recognised as a National Park city.
Sunday’s planting will be done by volunteers mobilised by The Press, Conservation Volunteers NZ and others under the supervision of council red zone rangers.
Rutledge said planting had always been planned for the area once ownership was transferred from Land Information New Zealand (Linz) but the Trees That Count donation had accelerated that plan. As formal ownership of the land had not yet been transferred, the council had leased the land from Linz.
Council staff have also worked to clear pest plants and weeds in the area, the grass has been mowed and previous wire fences upgraded to wooden bollards. Mounds of mulch have recently been delivered.
‘‘While there are some overhead costs involved, running volunteer planting days is a cost-effective way of delivering this outcome,’’ said Rutledge.
Registrations for Sunday’s planting are fully allocated but volunteers are invited to join the waiting list at EventBrite.