A Waipu plant nursery will give away more than 9000 seedlings to boost revegetation projects throughout Northland.
The Alter-Natives Wholesale Nursery plant giveaway has been an annual environmental project for four years, offering seedlings to individuals or groups wanting to replant their own or public land.
This year the Northland Regional Council
has contributed enough funding to enable the nursery to distribute 9300 native plants in lots of 100. The value of the giveaway is $24,180, to which the regional council has contributed more than $6500.
The scheme was motivated by a desire to see the environment improved, nurtured and protected, said nursery owner Ian Fox.
"We do not give away money or labour to support your project, but of the 400,000 plants we produce this year, we have decided it appropriate that we give 9300 of them away," Mr Fox said.
"It's our way of helping the environment and it's also helping people who might not be able to afford to buy the plants themselves. The extended value of this project is widespread for the environment and the community."
Mr Fox said the primary purpose was to support the environment by providing native plants for projects which would increase and improve the habitat for native wildlife such as birds and insects. Regeneration or planting new areas also improved water quality in streams and wetlands, he said.
Individuals, groups, schools, organisations and clubs can apply, with applications considered by regional council and Department of Conservation staff when entries close on May 12. Environmental projects within the Far North, Kaipara, Whangarei and Rodney Districts would qualify.
Some conditions applied, Mr Fox said. The plants would not be given to anyone wanting to plant up a garden just before putting a property on the market, for instance. Nor would they go to developers or owners needing to replant an area to meet consent compliance requirements.
Now in its fourth year, the scheme is like any "growing" enterprise - much depends on the weather. Mr Fox said the timing had affected the number of applications in recent years as some people did not like to plant out in winter or hold plants over until spring. This year's entries closed on May 12, still autumn, when the ground should be ready for planting.
People wanting to apply need to go to www.alter-natives.co.nz or phone Alter-Natives.
People wanting to apply need to go
to www.alter-natives.co.nz or phone
Alter-Natives.
