The Mōkihi reforestation trust (MRT) is holding a nature afternoon tomorrow at Cromwell’s Richards Beach with special guest and bug expert Ruud Kleinpaste.

The afternoon will feature educational activities including making a mōkihi (raft), adding native seeds to float down the Kawarau, planting native seedlings, insect hunting, and watering and mulching growing plants. 

Ruud is known for his role as “the bug man” on Maggie’s Garden Show from 1992 until 2003. 

He was appointed an honorary Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to entomology, conservation and entertainment in the 2018 New Year Honours.

MRT trust aims to restore and establish pockets of indigenous biodiversity in Cromwell and surrounding areas, and in particular the Lake Dunstan shoreline.

Richards Beach is located behind the Otago Polytechnic glasshouse, on Richards Beach Road. 

If you are attending register online prior, by going to a link on the MRT Facebook page, or email.

Look out for the teardrop shaped flag belonging to MRT on the day

MRT began planting at this site in 2016 and there are now 3,000 plants. The group’s two other key sites are located around Cromwell and Lake Dunstan and are a focus of MRT’s reforestation work; they are 45th Parallel and Stuart’s Ferry (just before the Bannockburn Bridge).

Learn more about MRT’s work here.

Share your photos from the nature day with our team, email: [email protected]