Very green indeed, given the inputs at Woodville’s Ferry Reserve recently. Nearly a hundred eager and willing planters, a grand stock of native plant species, expert oversight and support from key sponsors: DOC,  Meridian Energy, community volunteers and the Tyndall Foundation, all ‘mucking in’ to transform a swath of beautiful riverside paddock into a major extension of an already regenerating native bush reserve, as part of the “Living Legends” programme. Under a beautiful blue spring sky and with not a breath of wind, Ferry reserve was about to go even more green!

Living Legends is a community conservation project that was set up in 2011 to celebrate and leave a legacy of New Zealand’s hosting of Rugby World Cup. In 2011 it planted 83,000 trees. The target is to plant 170,000 before the end of 2015. Each planting project is dedicated to a regional ‘Rugby Legend’ who was selected in 2011 by their provincial rugby union. These Rugby Legends are people who have made an outstanding contribution to rugby in New Zealand. In Manawatu we are proud to recognise Sam Strahan as our inspirational arborist.

Living Legends has been planting in the Manawatu Gorge Scenic Reserve, as part of DOC’s Manawatu Gorge Biodiversity project.  This project is a major initiative involving local authorities, transport agencies, Department of Conservation, community organisations, Iwi, and individual land owners. The project has a vision to raise this dramatic landscape to a model of restoration for biodiversity and recreation at a national and international level.

On the day MDC Mayor Margaret Kouvalis and Palmerston North's Mayor Jono Naylor teamed up with Sam, and the men, women and children on the ‘muck-in’ whom had come from all over the region to help achieve the planting target for the day. On-site sustenance was delivered by the very capable team from Woodville Lions who whistled up their mobile catering unit and project-tested team to keep the troop’s tummies happy.   

The upgraded Gorge track is already a must do for walkers from across the country, experiencing the outstanding views not seen from the gorge itself and a wonderful piece of hardwood/podocarp forest. As a result of this project Ferry Reserve is set to become even more welcoming to visitors, with its well-established facilities, good swimming, BBQ and camping sites enhanced by the advancing new forest.

And wonderfully green it is too!