After a few blustery and chilly days, the weather came to the party as did 50 enthusiastic volunteers of all ages for the public planting day on land recently cleared of weeds, at the top of Sammaree Reserve.

After a briefing by Rod Brown on the wider Wairoa Stream projects, Rod lead the team of planters through the plantings that have taken place since 2013.

The good turnout meant that the plants were in the ground within a couple of hours of the first sods being turned.

These 1050 plants were funded by Matariki Tu Rakau which supports communities around New Zealand to plant trees together, creating living memorials to fallen and returned servicemen and women 100 years after the First World War. Part of the OneBillion Trees Programme.

At the end of the morning's planting, Laura Welsby, of Forward Whangarei Plastic Free Wholefood Store, who has organised the funding for planting in Northland, gave a brief outline of the programme while the team of planters enjoyed the scrumptious vegetarian lunch that Laura had supplied in waste and plastic free stainless steel containers and re-used bottles.

Thanks to everyone involved for another great addition to our growing habitat corridor in Kerikeri.

Pictures from the morning:

For those of you planting today - this is what the area looked like back in summer

Rod Brown briefs the team at the Cobham Road carpark

The team make their way to the planting area via previous years plantings

Plants and land ready to go

The planters ready to go

The spades get a workout

The last area to be planted of an area cleared of bamboo, situated amongst more mature plantings from several years ago.

Job done

The plastic sleeve and root trainers get sorted for return to The Shadehouse and reuse.

A bonus this year - a delicious lunch provide by Laura Welsby on behalf of Matariki Tu Rakau

The team photo next to the Matariki Tu Rakau plaque