2/06/2016

Arbor Day celebrations came early for Wellington and Porirua City Councils who joined forces with Project Crimson and 180 school students today to plant 5000 trees in Spicer Forest.

Arbor Day is celebrated worldwide on 5 June and encourages groups and individuals to plant and care for trees. For Project Crimson it marks the start of the official planting season.

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown says Arbor Day planting at Spicer Forest restores the native forest for future generations and other species that share our planet.

“We will transform the old pine forest into a biodiverse recreational area.”

“This will include track access from Tawa, connections to Porirua and to the Outer Green Belt,” she says. “There will be tracks for walkers, runners, horse riders and mountain bikers.”

Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett said the decision by Porirua and Wellington City Councils to buy back the harvest rights to the Spicer Forest means that not only will this area one day return to our own New Zealand bush, but our streams will not suffer from the sediment run-off that is an inevitable consequence of land clearance.

“A significant part of the Spicer Forest lies within the catchment for Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour. The Arbor Day plantings contribute to our vision for “A healthy catchment, waterways and harbour, enjoyed and valued by the community”.

Project Crimson assisted with the event by providing transport for 180 kids from local schools to attend, as well as running environmental education sessions with Ruud Kleinpaste.