Growing Plants and Pups!

The Trust began the year with a record sea lion breeding season in Dunedin, saying It was very rewarding to observe sea lions making use of the native planting sites, with at least 12 of the 35+ pups born in Dunedin spending time at Smaills Beach this year. The team welcomed back regular breeding females, including Tektite and Mahira, and celebrated new mothers Astro, Tui and Kaea, who chose to give birth at Smaills.

Due to high levels of sea lion activity, there was little opportunity over the summer months to undertake maintenance around the plantings. April was therefore a busy time for volunteers, with weeding, lupin lopping, and fixing squashed tree guards.

The arrival of winter marks the start of the tree planting season. This year, the Trust focused its efforts on two sites in the Tomahawk dunes. Species planted at these sites included tōtara, ngāio, kōwhai, harakeke, tarata, kōhūhū, tī kōuka, koromiko, kāpuka and Olearia. The team also revisited some existing sites at Smaills, undertaking trial plantings of tātaki as a ground cover, and planting kahikatea and mātaī into established sites along the creek.

WWF funding has been used towards tree guarding supplies, which are essential for protecting young seedlings from rabbits until they become established. The Trust has chosen reusable mesh guards because they allow full sunlight to reach the plants while providing multiple years of protection. The grant has also used New Zealand wool mulch mats, which help keep the ground damp in extremely dry coastal dune conditions and greatly reduce the work involved in keeping weeds at bay.

The Trust is extremely grateful to everyone who has volunteered their time towards the project. Volunteers have included people from the wider Dunedin community, local schools, disability service users, young people joining via support agencies, university students and polytechnic students. Since January this year, volunteers have contributed a whopping 716 hours and planted just over 1,300 trees, shrubs and sedges into the dunes of Tomahawk and Smaills.

For one regular volunteer, the project has offered more than just an opportunity to help restore nature.
“I had been inpatient for over a year, accessing mental health support... Volunteering weekly at the nursery began to turn things around. For a couple of hours a week I found a purpose, I could be productive, and my small efforts were making a difference... I’ve tried all sorts and found my favorite tasks. I’ve also found a little of the self-confidence I have lost on my journey... my experience at the nursery has played a huge part in giving me the confidence to reach out and organise some other volunteering... I am hugely grateful to Nicole, Oscar, the other volunteers, and the trust for this opportunity.” — Katy

WWF-New Zealand’s Community Conservation Fund, in partnership with the Tindall Foundation, is proud to support community-led projects that restore Aotearoa’s natural environment, strengthen connections with nature, and create lasting benefits for both people and wildlife.