CAMBORNE WALKWAY PLANTING DRAWS GREAT RESPONSE
Camborne and Mana residents turned out in great numbers for the tree planting on the Camborne Walkway sponsored by the Guardians of Pauatahanui Inlet on the morning of Sunday May 6.
A letterbox drop to 700 homes had invited the local community to give half a day or a whole day to the project. The response was such that planting was in full swing by the advertised start time of 10 am, and late-comers at 10.45 were being advised that the supply of 400 trees from the Porirua City Council nursery in Cannon's Creek had been exhausted.
'Our calculations were that each volunteer could plant up to 10 trees an hour,' said project co-ordinator Alastair Harray of the Guardians, after the early completion of the task. 'We actually had 50 people on the job by 10.15 and they proved our calculations were spot on.
'The rocky ground also proved that the mattock was the preferred implement over the humble spade. And it was particularly pleasing that we were joined by family groups, their youngsters getting an early introduction to caring for their community's assets.'
'We were greatly helped by the preparatory work of George Williams, the Council's contracted co-ordinator of maintenance of the Camborne Walkway. In the preceding weeks he had cleared away gorse and other rubbish, marked the planting sites, and dug preliminary holes for the plants. Allocation of the trees to suitable sites was in the hands of Wanda Tate of the Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve Committee. The Guardians are very grateful for the expert input of both these folk,' said Alastair Harray.
The disappointed late comers were advised that there would be a repeat planting of a further 200 trees the next Sunday, commencing at the same time. The Guardians committee will consult with Porirua City Council to set up further projects to enhance the Inlet and build on the success of this initial venture into building community partnerships.
