Planting now complete at Coalfields Road partnership project

4895 plants have been successfully planted at the Department of Conservation / Fish and Game joint project at Coalfields Road, in the Whangamarino wetland area near Maramarua. Waikato RiverCare was pleased to be part of the team effort at this site, project managing the sourcing and planting of a selection of primarily native grasses and other wetland plants.

Mature plant stock was chosen for the site, to reduce potential damage by pukeko. The May planting also tied in with the start of Game Bird Hunting Season, which will assist in the reduction of bird damage to the new plantings as they establish.

The following plant species were used for their wetland restoration values: Carex virgata/secta (swamp sedge/pukio), Cyperus ustulatus (giant umbrella sedge), Carex geminata (cutty grass), Leptospermum scoparium (manuka), and Phormium tenax (flax/harakeke).

Several threatened bird species make the Whangamarino wetland their home, including the Botaurus poiciloptilus (Australasian bittern/matuku). This planting project will develop native ground cover around the Fish and Game constructed wetlands, creating a refuge for wildlife and encouraging bird nesting for the benefit of gamebirds and the many other wetland species.

With further restoration and planting being planned in the region by organisations such as DOC, Fish & Game and the Waikato Regional Council, Waikato RiverCare looks forward to the opportunity to be of assistance in future projects of this type.

If you have a native species planting project in mind, get in touch with Waikato RiverCare.