Now that the ground has become wet enough for planting at last, the Rutherford College student environment group has been busy planting around 1600 native trees and other plants with the help of some junior classes.

The amazing Community Waitakere organisation secured funding to enable us to plant a riparian strip along the estuary edge at the bottom of our school fields and also some infill planting along the Pixie Stream behind our tennis courts.

This planting has been done over 3 sessions including putting in around 1400 plants on Tuesday, 11 June.

There are a few aims behind this:

1. To provide a beautiful boundary between the field and estuary to keep our grass clippings and litter out of the waterways, protect the native species in the estuary such as the Banded Rail, help us with pest management and also act as a small windbreak for sports.

2. To continue to plant at least one plant each year for each of the Rutherford students and staff as part of our ongoing commitment towards combating climate change, preferably involving as many people as possible in planting their own trees.

3. To improve the riparian habitat for spawning of endangered native whitebait species in the Pixie Stream and study these interesting fish further.

We have more plantings coming up, working with other community groups to enhance our local area.

Thanks to everyone who has helped with planting so far this year!