Posted: 17 July 2007
More native plants for Lake Omapere
Organisers hope several thousand new native trees and flaxes will grace the shores of Northland’s largest lake by the end of this month.
This is the third winter that members of the community have turned out to help plant thousands of trees and flaxes to improve the health of 1200-hectare Lake Omapere, near Kaikohe.
The planting days are organised by the Lake Omapere Trust, local landowners, the Northland Regional Council and the Department of Conservation and have seen an estimated 10,000 plants go into the ground around the lake’s margin since 2005.
About 30 volunteers turned out to the most recent community planting day last month and two more days – Friday 27 and Saturday 28 July – are now planned.
Organisers say they are grateful for the ongoing public support and hope the community will once again turn out in numbers for what will be the last public planting days for this year.
Community planting days form an integral part of an ongoing plan to improve the lake’s health by various means, including restoring native vegetation around its margins.
The plantings, coupled with an ongoing fencing programme, help keep stock out of the lake, reduce further sediment and nutrient input into the lake’s waters and also provide valuable habitat for native birds and other species.
The 27 and 28 July plantings will get underway at 10am and planting sites will be signposted from both ends of Te Pua Rd. Planting is expected to take about two hours, after which participants will be invited to share a free barbeque lunch.