Earlier this week one of our QEII Regional Representatives, Bill Wallace, headed along to a planting day organised jointly by QEII landowners Jean and Richard Kibblewhite, Kay from The Conservation Co and Bill. The task at hand was 400 meters of riparian planting along the Whangaehu River through the Kibblewhite family property, which is protected by a QEII covenant.

The Kibblewhites and Kay from The Conservation Co put up notices on their local community notice boards in Whangaehu and Porangahau with the hopes of getting people to come along and lend a hand.

To their delight several volunteers from both areas came along on the day, and they were joined by eight keen students from Porangahau School along with their teacher who even treated everyone with a waiata.

The planting day was part of Lottery Environment and Heritage Project and was one of the 7 project work areas. The project is in partnership with several partners alongside QEII including Lotteries, Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Horizons Regional Council, as well as three sets of landowners who are each contributing to the project either financially or in-kind.

The day was a success with the planting finishing up on the same day and the Kibblewhites put on a BBQ lunch to for all the volunteers. Here’s hoping next year is as much of as success!