As volunteers plant out a 750m section of the Ashburton/Hakatere River Trail with natives, there are calls to increase the flourishing area further.
In recent years, Ashburton meatworker Ross Hawthorne, 69, has led a group in transforming the public track between Chalmers Ave and Trevors Rd.
This time last year they had planted about 2650 natives; now it is up to about 6500.
Hawthorne started the project on his own, but many volunteers have recently jumped on board.
‘‘I think word is getting out there. People are seeing what’s happening,’’ Hawthorne said.
While many had suggested the area should be doubled, taking it up to the State Highway 1 bridge, Hawthorne said it was not something he would not be able to do. This was because the work in maintaining the current area, particularly keeping down weeds, was more than enough for him.
‘‘I keep getting told that we need to clean and plant through to the bridge, but that won’t be me that does that because maintenance will always be on going.’’
Ideally, someone else would be able to take on the project. The highly visual area was covered in weeds.
‘‘It’s a disgrace going over the bridge just looking at that old man’s beard,’’ Hawthorne said.
Volunteers who have helped recently include about 15 helping out at a plant-out day on Saturday. They included a member of Kanuka Trust which had recently come on board, and a member of Forest & Bird Ashburton.
This followed student leaders from Ashburton College helping plant more than 300 natives on one morning last month.
‘‘They were a great asset,’’ Hawthorne said.
The hard work had been all the more heartwarming for Hawthorne as he had encountered the odd incident of vandalism and theft. An area of plant guards and bamboo sticks had been knocked over.
However, this had been repaired by one the track’s walkers.
‘‘It’s so helpful when people do things like that,’’ Hawthorne said. There had also been the occasional plant knocked over by motorbikes, which are not allowed in the area, and some plants stolen.
Anyone who wants to help can text Hawthorne, 027 409 8185.
