Greenmeadows Kindergarten leads the way with tree planting initiative

by By Sarah Cates
Monday, Jun 03, 2019 5:52 PM

Despite the wintery chill in the air “Maggie’s Way” Walkway (Kent Terrace, Taradale) was a hive of activity on Sunday.

Coloured bobble hats, fleecy tops and waterproof jackets were order of the day as families, conservationists and young tree planting experts fulfilled a long-held dream of Greenmeadows Kindergarten.

Rachelle Lovett-Morrison, part of the kindergarten team, had mixed feelings as she said farewell to 200 native plants carefully raised by the kindergarten team, the children and their families.

Rachelle says, “I know it sounds silly, but I have a touch of sadness as we walk away from these plants. We have been with them for the whole process from germinating 850 native seeds to now planting them. It’s been a two-year progression. Over that time, we have had some losses! But, on the whole, they grew strong and healthy”.

As Rachelle and her team walk away from the plants, they should carry a sense of satisfaction with them. They have made a difference. Not just to Maggie’s Walkway but to all the lives they have touched.

A small team of dedicated tree growers enthusiastically get their hands in the swampy earth and plant a young cabbage tree.

Janna Rieter looks serious. She says, “We need to plant these trees to help keep the river clean”.

Busy with their planting but eager to educate the adults they each explained why they got out of bed on a cold Sunday morning to get their hands dirty.

“We are planting these trees to help the forest. We need to grow more forests so we can breathe,” Millie Logan explained.

Her Brother, Tawhai, said, “We need more plants! Papatūānuku needs plants to live, and we need Papatūānuku to live – so we can live!”

Hazel Logan looked up and said “Once these plants grow the birds and all the creatures will benefit from them. At the moment there’s not enough trees. Plant more!”

Sunday’s community planting day was part of a wider planting project that involved Napier City Council and Hinewai and Cam from Napier Maori Tours.

Napier Maori Tours have grown and gifted the city approximately 1,500 eco-sourced native tree seedlings to plant in this area in an effort to cleanse water flowing to Te Whanganui-a-Orotū, the Ahuriri Estuary, provide habitat enhancement and to encourage biodiversity.

Hinewai Hawaikirangi who is a candidate in the up-coming Hawke’s Bay Regional Council local body election says, “I believe our collective mission in life is that we love the Earth and we leave it in a better condition for the next generations. We all have a social responsibility to do this. We are the guardians of this land!”

Hinewai Hawaikirangi

Hinewai and Cam have been closely connected with Greenmeadows Kindergarten throughout the two-year period and feel many groups within our community could benefit from tree growing support.

“I would like to see more of this sort of activity going on. We held workshops on seed collection, growing seedlings, transplanting seedlings, right through to planting. This is what we as leaders need to be doing. Encouraging these types of activities to be normal. There has been enough talk, we just need to get on with it!” Hinewai says.

Maggie’s Walkway now has 1700 new plants. The energy and passion of those involved is admirable. But like Hinewai says, “it should be normal”.

Hazel Logan, Tawhai Logan, Janna Rieter and Millie Logan.

The super team of tree planters have supplied us with a step-by-step guide on how to plant a tree. Next time there is a community tree planting day get yourself along to it. Or better still, organise one yourself.