Part of the Great Taste Trail near Wakefield is being planted and nurtured by a dedicated few who want to create something special for everyone who uses it.
The efforts of the small team of volunteers have been rewarded with donated plants, initially from individuals in the community and then by 100 plants from Appletons Tree Nursery.
Every third Saturday of the month the volunteers have working bees to plant or weed-eat the trail.
The group was created after a local resident on the Wakefield Community Council, Richard Martin, was cycling the track and thought it would be a great idea if locals managed the trail near the village to make it beautiful.
Julian Eggers from the community council rallied the troops, and though they didn’t come in huge numbers, they have made up for it with their dedication.
Their efforts have been applauded by trail manager Belinda Crisp, who says it’s a community first in the region.
“It’s absolute gold. These guys are very special.”
She says it’s easy to find people to turn up one day to plant, but harder to get people committed long term.
“Everyone loves planting plants – that’s the real glory part. But if you can stick at it long enough, you can see the benefits.”
Belinda says it takes five to seven years to get the plants established and it is the ongoing commitment that makes this group special.
“It’s a long-term process, so to have a group doing a little bit regularly is better than having a group that does just one big day when everyone is excited. It’s about community engagement.”
Julian says the group has been planting around the Rotary shelter and weed-eating to keep competing weeds and grass down to give the plants a chance.
Next year the Tasman District Council will provide more plants and the group will continue to plant the area alongside the trail.
In 10 years, Belinda says, the trail will become a native corridor and it will also be “an amazing experience” for people using the trail.
Julian says that since working on the trail, the group sees a broad mix of users from cyclists to runners, walkers, and dogs taking their humans for a walk.
