Children gathering around teacher showing how to plant plants

Brian Patchett explains the regeneration planting on their property during a recent Te Ara Kakariki school planting event.

Landowners and community groups around the Selwyn district have started planning their new planting and biodiversity protection projects after receiving funding from the Selwyn Natural Environment Fund (SNEF).

Over 51 projects applied for funding from the Selwyn District Council, which include native restoration planting, predator trapping, invasive weed control and fencing projects to protect remnant native bush.

“The Council is pleased to have so many landowners and community groups working hard to restore our natural environment, and we are proud to be able to support their projects with our funding,” says Selwyn District Council Enabling Services Executive Director Tim Harris.

He explains that so far around $200,000 of the Selwyn Natural Environment Fund has been allocated to 48 successful applicants, with $58,000 still available for additional projects.

Harris highlights the work of Brian and Robyn Patchett (photographed during recent Te Ara Kakariki school planting event) from Springston as a wonderful example how a small amount of Council support can go a long way to supercharge private restoration work.

“With support from Te Ara Kākāriki, they have been incredibly busy over the past seven years turning bare paddocks into native wetland forest to attract native birdlife, improve water quality and restore habitat for other natural wildlife and fauna,” says Harris.

woman wearing hat holding freshly planted plant

“This type of restoration is vital in the Canterbury Plains where over 99% of native vegetation has been lost, and we are really stoked that the SNEF grant helped Brian and Robyn to purchase over 5000 native plants and expand the area to more than a hectare of native forest.”

Aside from the SNEF, the Council also provides additional funding specifically targeted to predator eradication.

“Improving our natural environment, from native planting to protecting our native birdlife, can only be achieved by the efforts of many members of our community making a difference in their own patch of land,” says Harris.
“It is impossible for one agency, like the Council, to lead or drive these initiatives, but the progress made by our proactive community members can really be maximised through some funding to help their projects.”

The Selwyn District Council recently approved another cycle for the Selwyn Natural Environment Fund and Predator Free Fund (PFF) for the next financial year and will invite landowners to apply for this funding from April 1 for PFF and SNEF from August 1, 2025.

Last modified: 16 Oct 2024 4:30pm