A 5ha paddock has taken a step closer to becoming a coastal forest area following the completion of a seven-year planting programme.
More than 25,000 native plants now stand proudly at Okete Reserve near Raglan.
They were planted by Waikato District Council (WDC) contractors, WDC staff with the assistance of Waikato Regional Council and local landowners.
Native tree and shrub species planted on the reserve include cabbage tree, manuka, mahoe, totara, kanuka, mingimingi and karamu.
Turning grazing land into coastal forest will help create greater native biodiversity, improve the habitat for wildlife and amenity values, assist in reducing farming impacts on council reserve land, and reduce emissions.
“This is a great example of Council working with local landowners, proven delivery agents and creating partnerships with Waikato Regional Council to improve native biodiversity in our district and help flight climate change,” said Waikato District Council Ecological Planner Ben Wolf.
The land was bought by Raglan County Council back in 1946 for the purposes of a quarry.
It is now managed by Waikato District Council as a nature reserve.
