Last week, the Ōkārito Plant Project led two important maintenance "health check" days at our planting sites, ensuring the success of our young native plants. With the West Coast experiencing an unusually hot and dry January, we were eager to assess how our plantings were holding up under the challenging conditions.
Our first stop was Sullivan’s Farm Ōkārito Plant Project Plant Project near Lake Matheson in Fox Glacier—our very first planting site from July 2023. Given the intense heat, we were concerned about the plants’ survival, but we were delighted to find that most had grown from seedlings into strong shrubs, holding their own against the elements. A huge thank you to our hardworking team: Jen Haynes, a volunteer from Canada, Tash from Glacier Valley EcoTours, Jo and Julie from Ribbonwood Retreat, and Paula & Swade from Okarito Boat EcoTours. To avoid the worst of the midday heat, we took turns working, ensuring that all plants were freed from encroaching grass and weeds. Special thanks to Jen, who generously gave her time and effort during her holidays!
Next, we headed to Purcell’s Reserve in Whataroa, where over 2,000 seedlings have been planted as part of a large-scale restoration project. Some of the more exposed, rocky areas showed signs of heat stress, and we expect to return soon to replace any plants that don’t survive this extreme weather. However, thanks to recent rains, we remain optimistic that many will bounce back. Our plants are carefully eco-sourced from the immediate area, grown and hardened off in our nursery before planting—giving them the best possible start in life.
This day’s team was led by Antje from the Okarito Native Plants Trust, along with Paula & Swade from Okarito Boat Tours. We were grateful to have Jen join us again, as well as a new volunteer from Denmark, Sophie—welcome and thank you! While Paula & Swade had an early start and were soon feeling the heat, Antje, Jen, and Sophie continued with a “health check” at a nearby farmlet where we completed a planting in November. Most plants are looking strong, though some of the delicate kōwhai suffered a little “sunburn” on their tops—we’ll be keeping an eye on them and will step in to help if needed.
As always, this project thrives because of the incredible support of like-minded businesses, visitors and landowners who come together to give back to the land, create habitats for native birds, and restore our waterways. A huge thank you to everyone who took part—your time, effort, and passion are making a real difference!
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