Native Trees for Native Birds

By Abi Cunninghame

The time is fast approaching for an annual project for Pest Free Howick – the Native Trees for Native Birds planting project. This project aims at empowering schools to add native plantings to their schools to build up their ngahere (forest). The ngahere on each school will then provide habitat for native birds across East Auckland. These extra habitats across a very urban and industrialised Tāmaki Makaura can act as ‘safe stepping stones’ and help to get rare and endangered bird species from pest free islands in the Hauraki Gulf back to the mainland. Each ngahere will also provide opportunities for our tamariki to connect with nature often in a safe environment. This connection is crucial for social and emotional development.

Schools in previous years have made amazing progress with their plantings and we are so excited to continue this project this year. We will work with the schools to choose a suitable location, provide ongoing support about how to maintain the space as well as the physical planting.

If this project sounds like something you would be interested in, keep an eye out for our expression of interest that will be coming soon. To register your interest you will need:

1. A commitment for ongoing care and maintenance for the plantings
2. A proposed map
3. A before story, an update in September, and a yearly story to be submitted by May each year to monitor progress

As much as this project is for schools, everyone across East Auckland with a backyard has the opportunity to better the urban environment. Feel free to reach out to our team and we can work with you and your goals.