Celebrating 40 years of the Coastal Classic

Kawau Tree Planters’ sterling job

Thanks to our members taking part in our moving days and volunteer weekends, as well as the assistance of our fantastic sponsors, Nespresso, the 2022 campaign for the Squadron’s Kawau Tree Planting and Reforestation Project has been an all-around success so far.

The aim of the project is to provide increased suitable habitat for the threatened species that already live on the island, like kiwi and weka, and help repopulate the island’s birdlife with native bush so our members and visitors to Lidgard House can enjoy the natural beauty that comes with the restored land.

Our plant moving day in June saw a small team move 2,500 native plants from ReForest Native Plant Nursery in Omaha to Smelting House Bay. The subsequent Nespresso Day on the 30 June, alongside two planting weekends in July, have put the Kawau Project in a strong position as the native plants take hold and grow over the next few months.

The hill above Lidgard House has been cleared of invasive plants like woolly nightshade and Japanese cedar. Due to their fast growth rates and the nutritious Kawau soil, many of these plants needed two or more people to remove them. Now, they have been replaced by a selection of native plants like kawakawa, totara and harakeke.

The land clearing took up much of the time for the two Volunteer Weekends and the Nespresso Day, however we have been able to plant 1,000 native saplings and have another 1,500 in nursery ready to be planted at the upcoming Planting Day on August 28.

We have also been donated a Waterwatch WiFi Tank Monitor that allows us to track the levels of the 10 water tanks on RNZYS land and the usage of those who stay at Lidgard House – huge thanks to our partners at Waterwatch NZ for their generous support.

Year Two of the Kawau Tree Planting and Reforestation Project is almost complete, but we still need your help as we look to continue the excellent work of the past two years. If you would like to leave your mark on this very worthwhile Squadron endeavour, you can donate a single tree, a cluster of plants, or a tree with a dedicated plaque through the RNZYS website or at Reception.

Back row L-R: Celia Harrison, Wallace Baker, Gracey Griffin, Cooper Hopman, Jim Griffin, James Campbell. Jacque Mercies. Middle row L-R: Adrienne Furness, Stephanie Morgan, Hew Campbell. Bottom row L-R: Sheryl & Mike Lanigan, Barbara Thomson, Johnny Montgomery & Joe Mercies. Dogs are Tembi & Lucky – Photo by Debbie Whiting.