Posted: 12 November 2007
Seed workshops offer chance to protect dunes
People interested in learning how to grow and plant sand-binding native plants to help protect Northland’s sand dunes are being urged to attend public workshops at Ruakaka and Taipa early next month.
The Northland Regional Council, which is organising the seed workshops, says dunes – which play an important role in protecting beaches from coastal erosion and flooding - rely heavily on the plants that grow on them to trap sand.
Laura Shaft, the Council’s CoastCare Co-ordinator, says the two December workshops will cover a number of areas including seed collection from coastal areas and how to grow and nurture young sand-binding plants. Participants will also be given advice on how to plant successfully, including timing, fertiliser and pest control.
Ms Shaft says the Council hopes up to 50 people will attend each workshop; the first at the Ruakaka Race Course on Saturday 1 December, followed on Sunday 2 December by the second event at the Taipa Area School. Both workshops start at 10am and will run for about two-and-a-half hours, with lunch provided.
Ms Shaft says interested participants will also be invited to stay on for the launch of a new Regional Council CoastCare kit, designed to help local communities taking action to address environmental issues with their beaches.
CoastCare groups involve partnerships between local communities, iwi, District Councils, Department of Conservation and the Regional Council, with replanting native sand-binding plants a major part of the groups’ work.
Ms Shaft says anyone interested in registering for one of the seed workshops, finding out about their local CoastCare group – or forming a new one – can contact her at the Regional Council on (0800) 002 004.