Native plantings enrich landscape

• Published date: 23 June 2022
• Publication title: Central Otago News

The trust, which operates the Clyde Railhead Community Eco Nursery, not only provides native plants to community organisations to plant out, but organises its own planting to restore native plants and insects to Central Otago landscapes

One such effort takes place at Flat Top Hill where the trust has for the past three years been involved in planting natives on Department of Conservation land that is fenced off from rabbits and other pest species.

Trust chairwoman Claire Becker-Gledhill said volunteers put in 500 plants each year and the weekend planting was the third this season.

‘‘Usually we plant a bit earlier but it was so dry they wouldn’t have survived,’’ she said.

‘‘Normally in June, you wouldn’t be planting because the ground would be frozen. It’s a bit of a juggling act getting it right.’’

The trust collects seeds from hardy plants that have survived well in Central Otago’s harsh...