Kia ora,
This is an ongoing, longer request for support establishing part of a wildlife corridor between the Pukenui and Otaika forests. We are regenerating bush on our property in Maunu, situated between the two reserves. Our priority is converting ~4 hectares of kikuyu-infested paddock into native bush. We've started planting ourselves, but we are going to need help.
The long-term plan is to get the property protected in perpetuity as a QEII trust to preserve as wildlife and native bush preserve. The first step is replacing the grass with native plantings.
What we are looking for to help make this happen:
*Plants - Particularly pioneer species like manuka, kanuka, large harakeke, cabbage trees, Pittosporum crassifolium/karo, whau, red mapou, makomako, lacebark, mahoe, five finger, etc. Do you have a flat of manuka or kanuka seedlings? That can help! Splitting or removing a native? Send it our way! We also have shady marshy areas of paddock which need reforesting.
*Mulch - We'll need heaps of mulch to protect our new plantings. Do you know where to get some? Will you have some? Can you dump some here? Unfortunately we don't have a truck for pickup.
*Planting - Assuming we can get the requisite plants and mulch, we'll need help getting them in the ground. This is primarily a wintertime activity.
*Money? - We've reached out to lots of departments and organizations about grants and funds to get any plants or mulch. Almost everyone is tapped out, or waiting until they get new guidelines for funding next year. We've signed up for notifications for a lot. We've also put in inquiries with private companies that share costs. Another option is crowd-funding through the community, but we're not currently pursuing that until we've run through the other choices.
Thank you,
J & E