Community planting day great way to celebrate Get Outdoors Week

Foxton Beach Progressive Association members lending a hand for Recreational Services Horowhenua's community planting day on Tuesday. Photo / Mo Collins

As part of Get Outdoors Week 2021, Recreational Services NZ hosted two planting days this week, one of which was at Foxton Beach.

The planting event at Holben Reserve was designed to give the local community a chance to connect with each other as well as an opportunity to play an active role in getting our green spaces summer ready.

Recreational Services Horowhenua branch had various wetland plants sitting at their depot and needed to get them into the ground as soon as possible.

Getting those holes ready for the wetland plants requires a little bit of extra help. Photo / Mo Collins

Team manager Mo Collins said the team thought a community planting day would be a great way to celebrate Get Outdoors Week.

There was a small but enthusiastic group who turned up to help out, including members from the Foxton Beach Progressive Association and Sean Hester, who is the park and property lead at Horowhenua District Council.

"We even roped in a lady who was on holiday from Mount Maunganui who was out for a walk to come in and help out," laughed Collins.

Local community and visitors all pitched in for the wetland planting at Holben Reserve, Foxton Beach. Photo / Mo Collins

It was a gorgeous morning on Tuesday – not too hot but calm and fine, ideal weather for digging holes and getting plants in the ground, said Collins.

A great time was had by all and Recreational Services cooked up a sausage sizzle for the helpers at the end of the planting.

Holben Reserve is looked after jointly by Horowhenua District Council, DoC and Horizons Regional Council and the team planted a small area to enhance the wetland area into the bird sanctuary.

The very enthusiastic team who participated in a community planting day as part of Get Outdoors Week 2021. Photo / Mo Collins