On a mission to plant another 500 plants at Flat Top Hill, the Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust needs volunteers tomorrow to help with their Saturday planting.

Flat Top Hill conservation area was selected by the Department of Conservation as a suitable location to re-establish grey scrublands. This is an ecosystem that is declining both here and nationally.

Grey scrub is named for its dark appearance. Grey scrub is actually made up of a variety of small-leaved, highly branched shrubs such as matagouri, mingimingi (Coprosma propinqua) and olearias, as well as wiry climbing plants that scramble over and through the shrubs.

Last week a band of volunteers made a good start to the mission of planting another five hundred plants at the Flat Top Hill reserve, and this Saturday the Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust hopes to complete the job.

Trust spokesperson Rachael Baxter says the project at Flat Top Hill is part of a longer term project with the aim to introduce five hundred plants back into the Conservation Area on an annual basis. The local DoC team has been supporting the project, assisting with weed control before planting.

Haehaeata nursery manager Dhana Pillai agrees, saying in pre-human times, most of the land around Flat Top Hill would have been covered in low forest and shrub-land, however, centuries of burning, grazing and rabbits have removed most of the native woody vegetation leaving only the toughest survivors.

“We are helping DoC with their vegetation restoration plan to put more native plants back into the landscape, which will then provide a source of seeds for them to spread out from.” 

Rachel explains native plants are not protected by law, so on private land there are no holds barred when it comes to native vegetation removal.

“In Central Otago, we have lost a large amount of our native vegetation to fire and land use - think farming and the growth of the towns we live in. 

“A particular plant species can have the same conservation status as a kakapo but remain unprotected and, in a lot of cases, not understood by the general public. 

“As a region, we have the dubious honour of having lost the most native vegetation in New Zealand.”

Rachel says restoring the Flat Top Hill area gives a chance for species native to our area that are long gone, nationally vulnerable or at risk of disappearing, a chance to make a comeback.  The area is protected from development, however fire will always remain a risk. 

“As it is a public space, anyone can come and experience Central Otago as it once was.

“And it is not just about the plants, our native fauna evolved depending on these plants to survive, and vice versa. 

“If we lose plant species, it is unknown how many insect species we lose as well. Not to mention the bird and lizard species that won't be able to establish without their food plants.”

In order to make the plantings successful, Rachael said, volunteers were needed. As a community, we should continue to work towards a vision of a thriving Central Otago landscape, rich in indigenous plants and wildlife. (continue reading below).

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And this project is one step further towards this goal. A mix of plants will be planted on Saturday, from the grey shrubs such as the Coprosma species, to our native kowhai.

Anyone wanting to volunteer on Saturday and help, can contact Rachael for further details on [email protected]

The Flat Top Hill conservation area is located near Butchers Dam. Things will get underway on Saturday morning at 10.00am, and volunteers are encouraged to bring snacks and drink, gloves and tools.