Music under the trees a chance to enjoy nature

Stop by and enjoy some Music Under the Trees. PHOTO/FILE

If you are heading to Tauranga on Sunday, there's a chance to take in some music and nature at TECT Park on the way.

Music Under the Trees is being held for the fourth time and audiences are growing according to Ngongotaha Lions member Trevor Hawkins.

"In our first year we had about 40 people and last year we had about 200 turn up. People could hear the music as they drove past and they stopped off to listen."

The afternoon of music celebrates the work of the Ngongotaha Lions, the driving force behind the Lions Tree Grove, a native tree planting project that many other Lions groups in the Bay of Plenty have helped with.

Mr Hawkins said the site had been transformed from bare land to a place where some native trees were now 4m high: where tui, bellbirds, tomtits and insect life were returning.

"This is a heritage project that we have put into place. It will end up being a native bush oasis in a predominantly exotic forest," said Mr Hawkins.

Performing on the day is ukulele group Simply Strings, followed by Theory 89 playing music from the '60s, '70s and '80s. Closing the entertainment will be the Rotorua Symphonic Band with a selection of easy listening music.

The Lions will put on a sausage sizzle and there will be tea and coffee available for $1. All money raised is for grove maintenance.

"Please bring seats, blankets and a picnic, sit back and relax listening to a cross-section of music in the wonderful setting of the Dell," said Mr Hawkins.

What: Music Under the Trees
Where: TECT All Terrain Park
When: Sunday, 11am-3pm
Cost: Free