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Dozens of people have helped at previous Lake Omapere community planting days.

Over the past two winters, dozens of people have helped at several community planting days aimed at improving the health of the 1200-hectare lake, near Kaikohe.
 
This winter’s planting programme will start shortly when offenders doing community work sentences begin planting 1000 native kanuka trees grown by inmates from the Northland Correctional Facility, more commonly known as Ngawha Prison.

They will also split thousands of harakeke (flax) to prepare them for planting.

Mike Kellehar, of the Lake Omapere Trust, says the community will then get its chance to help the lake at two public planting days scheduled for Saturday 23 and Saturday 30 June.

The community planting days have been organised by the Trust, with support from local landowners, the Northland Regional Council and Department of Conservation.

The days form part of an ongoing plan to improve the lake’s health by various means, including restoring native vegetation around its margins.

Mr Kellehar says 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 location of the planting sites will be signposted from both ends of Te Pua Rd.