Events & Plantings So Far
2016
Fathers Day Planting
There will be the traditional Father’s Day planting again this year: Sunday 4 September, 12- 2 pm.
We will be planting Seton Nossiter Park, entering the park from the Mark Avenue (Scout Hall) entrance.
If you are late, just wander down the track into the park, and you will see us by the flood detention unit. (take the first exit from the track to the right, and then double back to the left).
Arbour Day Planting
An Arbour Day planting took place in Seton Nossiter Park on Sunday, 5 June.
We met at the Mark Avenue car park entrance to the park at noon.
The aim was to plant 500 trees, perform the clearing of existing plantings and remove blackberry.
The planting was a Million Metres Streams project (millionmetres.org.nz) organised by Woodridge Planters and the Seton Nossiter Park Working Group, and supported by the Wellington City Council. Also sponsored by the Johnsonville Charitable Trust and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Newlands Clean-Up, Saturday 28 May 2016
We supported the clean-up of Newlands streets and parks, in collaboration with the following groups:
Newlands Paparangi Progressive Association, Lions, Rotary, Scouts, New World, Wellington City Council, Nga Hau e Wha o Papararangi, and the community.
Woodridge Picnic
On 13 March 2016, a family picnic was held at Kentwood Drive Reserve and Play Area.
This was a chance to meet your neighbours in Woodridge and included a treasure hunt for the kids.
Free sausages with vegetarian option, and soft drink were provided but many locals contributed with their own food.
2015
Picnic In The Park
On 18 October 2015, a picnic was held to celebrate the restoration of Seton Nossiter Park and the Million Metres Stream Project. Approximately 60 people attended.
Family Planting Day
On 6 September 2015, about 550 native trees (inc. 200 northern rata) were planted in the top paddock of Seton Nossiter Park not far from the end of White Pine Avenue in Woodridge.
Other activities included mulching and releasing (weeding) previous plantings.
2014
During the 2014 winter, Woodridge Planters supported the planting of 1,350 trees in the northern rata forest in the "top paddock" of Seton Nossiter Park. The paddock is an open area on the Woodridge side of the park, near White Pine Avenue, that was once grazed by horses but is now reverting to gorse.
Over the past two years, more than 2,500 trees, including 600 northern rata, have been planted by the community. In addition to Woodridge Planters, several organisations have been involved: Seton Nossiter Park Working Group; Nga Hau e Wha o Papararangi; Paparangi Scouts: St Michael's Church. Several corporate volunteers (organised by Volunteer Wellington) have
also contributed. Trees have been provided by Wellington City Council, Project Crimson (400 northern rata), Trevor Hawes, and the Jay St Community Nursery. The photos are from the Father's Day planting of 680 trees. Photo credit: James Gilberd (Photospace).
2011
Three groups in Newlands organised a native tree planting to celebrate the Rugby World Cup win by the All Blacks.
Saturday, 5 November at the Papakainga of Nga Hau e Wha o Papararangi at 30 Ladbrooke Drive, Newlands, we planted some forest giants (totara, northern rata, and kahikatea) to celebrate the World Cup. Thirty-six trees were planted on Wellington City Council reserves, one for each member of the squad and the coaching team. Each tree was personalised with a named stake.
Saturday 5 November, 7.15 pm. Former All Black Robert Burgess helped plant the run-on fifteen for the final, 15 totara trees for 1 (Tony Woodcock) through to 15 (Israel Dagg). The site was the front entrance of the papakainga of Nga Hau e Wha o Papararangi (“people of the Four Winds in Papararangi”) at 30 Ladbrooke Drive, Newlands. This was followed by the papakainga being open to the public to watch the harbour fireworks, and kai, of course.
Sunday 6 November, 2 pm. Former All Black Mick Bremner helped plant the reserves and the coaches, 5 totara trees and 5 northern rata, for Stephen Donald, Andrew Hore, Graham Henry and so on. The site was the Mark Avenue car park at the entrance to Seton Nossiter Park, near the Paparangi Scout Hall.
Saturday 12 November, 10 am
Planting of the remainder of the squad, plus the invalided Dan Carter, Mils Muliaina and Colin Slade, in the form of 11 kahikatea, along the waterway in 79 Kentwood Drive Reserve, Woodridge.
The three organisations involved were Nga Hau e Wha o Papararangi, Seton Nossiter Park Working Group and Woodridge Planters. These organisations have longstanding planting programmes and have, for example, planted 4,500 native trees in the Newlands/Paparangi/Grenada Village area in the past two winters.
Wednesday 28 September, 10am:
A University of the Third Age Garden Group of about 20 people visited Woodridge to learn about our work over the past few years. They had a look at a few of our plantings and had a small presentation at Peter's on the environmental, social and community benefits of our activity.
Sunday 11 September:
Family planting day at 79 Kentwood Drive.
Thanks to Mitre 10 Mega Petone for a great deal on gardening gloves.
And while big IS good, we got small ones too.
Sunday 7 August:
Community planting day in Seton Nossiter Park
Sunday 10 July:
Paparangi Scouts’ planting at the papakainga, Ladbrooke Drive.
Saturday 25 June:
Matariki planting at the papakainga, Ladbrooke Drive, which was followed by kai.
We checked out how last year’s plantings were doing, and also how the building had improved inside (with a little bit of help from the Hutt Mana Charitable Trust and the Royal Society).
Sunday 20 March, Christchurch Remembrance Planting Day
Kentwood Drive Reserve, we planted more than a 100 native trees, including northern rata
2010
Saturday 26 June, Seton Nossiter Park
Thanks to a great turnout we were able to plant 508 trees.
Saturday 19 June, the Marae at 30 Ladbrrok Drive, Newlands.
We helped to plant 150 trees inside the front fence.
Saturday 13 March, Kevin Jamieson Memorial Planting
We remembered Kevin, our good friend and incredible supporter of the community and environment, by planting 5 largeTotara trees in Kentwood Drive Reserve (aka Woodridge Forest).
2009
Since the start of winter, we have planted 850 trees and shrubs in Kentwood Drive Reserve, with help from the community, Weltec overseas students, NZI corporate volunteers and the NZ Resilience Trust. To do this, we have had financial and in-kind support from the Wellington City Council, the Habitat Protection Fund (administered by WWF) and Capital Compost. Woodridge Planters has also supported the Seton Nossiter Park Working Group in planting 528 trees and shrubs in Seton Nossiter Park. If you would like to help or know more about the activities of Woodridge Planters or Seton Nossiter Park Working Group, please contact Peter (peter.gilberd@royalsociety.org.nz, 470-5778)
PAPARANGI SCOUTS PLANTING: Saturday 1 November, 9.00 am - noon Paparangi Scouts will be coming to plant an area near to the stream and also near to the area in which they planted 180 trees last year. We are aiming to plant 130 kanuka, manuka, flax, mahoe, puka, akeake, tarata, totara and other native plants. What happened: 11 scouts (with 4 adult scout leaders) worked really hard on an extremely windy day and planted 142 trees and shrubs in a little over two hours. Then we retired for lunch. Thank you to Tony and the scouts, and also to Trish, from Woodridge Planters, who also helped out. 1,150 trees have been planted so far this winter.
SECOND ADOPT A SPOT PLANTING: Sunday 12 October, 9.30 - 10.30 am A second family on Cedarwood Street has arranged to work with Woodridge Planters on planting and maintaining the bank below the family's house, on the eastern boundary of Kentwood Drive Reserve. We aim to plant approximately 40 manuka, toetoe, kanuka, karamu, cabbage trees and hebe. What happened: Superb weather and with a really good turnout of 12 neighbours we planted 72 trees in just over an an hour on a very difficult slope! More than a thousand trees have been planted this winter in Kentwood Drive Reserve.
PLANTING IN SETON NOSSITER PARK: Sunday 5 Octber, 1-3 pm (Mark Avenue entrance) Wellington City Council has put aside some trees for planting in the Park and has asked Woodridge Planters to help find people to put them in. The Seton Nossiter Park Working Group has worked very effectively for more than a decade on the site, both at a practical level and in an advocacy role. However, since the passing of Lawson Robertson late last year, there has been no planting at the Park. Chair of the Working Group, Bruce Patterson, and Peter Gilberd from Woodridge Planters have taken up Council's offer. If you can help, please ring Peter - 470 5778 (W), 971 2920 (H), or meet at 1 pm at the Mark Avenue carpark. If you arrive after 1 pm, walk down the track for a few minutes and you will find us. Bring a spade, gloves and boots - some spare spades and gloves are available. What happened: Twenty-three people appeared promptly at 1 pm and had 230 plants in the ground by 2.15 pm. Wonderful effort! Thank you very much to everyone involved - Trish, Bruce, Dawn, Averiil, Lois, Tim, Harry. Elise, Christina, Blair, Lisa, Daniel, Rhys, Ewen, Gillian, Paul, Ashlea, Duncan, Lorelle, Jessie, Stu, Peter and Brenda. Plants were mainly flax (160) and toetoe (40) but also cabbage trees, manuka, kanuka and karamu.
FAMILY PLANTING: Sunday 27 September, 1-4 pm Come along and plant two or three shrubs on the banks of the stream, at the northern end of the Reserve (at the very bottom of Kentwood Drive), have a snack and soft drink, and select a plant to take home. What happened: It was sensational weather and the turnout matched the day. More than 40 people turned up (with lots of children with their parents and grandparents, representing 20 families in all), and together we put in an amazing 148 plants (amazing, given the difficulty of the site). A wonderful day and a big advance on beautifying the stream banks adjacent to Kentwood Drive, and improving the stream environment. Many thanks to everybody that helped in one way or another.
ADOPT A SPOT PLANTING: Sunday 21 September A few of the regulars and a family on Cedarwood Street planted the bank below the family's house, on the eastern boundary of Kentwood Drive Reserve. 66 toetoe, kanuka, manuka, karamu and cabbage trees were planted. The family have adopted this spot, and will look after the trees until they are established. We would love to hear from any other households that are interested in doing the same thing.
VISIT FROM WWF : Sunday 31 August Jen Riches and Cristy Cameron from WWF (Principal sponsor of Woodridge Planters, along with the Wellington City Council) and photographer Louise Hatton visited the site and talked to Phil, Kevin, Steve and Peter. They wrote a story (http://www.wwf.org.nz/index.php/about_us/features/entry/the_conservation_connection/) for Conservation Week, which was carried in the 18 September issue of 'The Wellingtonian'.
ART OF LIVING PLANTING: Saturday 23 August 25 people from the Art of Living group came to plant today as part of the UN Millennium Campaign. They planted 250 trees at the southern end of the park. For the third time in a row, the weather was perfect. They were a great group and made a big impact.
ANZ CORPORATE PLANTING: Thursday 7 August. 6 hard-working volunteers from the ANZ Bank, arranged through Volunteer Wellington, completed the planting of the bank behind the houses at the lower end of Cedarwood Street. They planted 150 more shrubs and trees, helped shift a big pile of compost, marked the plants with stakes, and installed irrigation. The bank looks fantastic.
STREAMSIDE PLANTING: Saturday/Sunday 20-21 July. 55 reeds planted were planted on the very edge of the stream.
2008
COMMUNITY PLANTING: Sunday 13 July. Enter the reserve at the entrance on the corner of Cedarwood St and Kentwood Drive. The planting will start at 10 am, there will be a break for lunch at 12 noon, and planting will finish at 2 pm. Please come for as long or as short a time as you wish. Bring a spade, gloves and bucket. We aim to plant approximately 400 trees on the bank behind the houses at the lower end of Cedarwood St and the existing bush. Enquiries to Peter Gilberd - 470 5778 (Wk), 971 2920 (Hm). What happened: 27 people helped in one way or another. We cleared the remaining gorse and planted 250 trees and shrubs - mainly, toetoe, wineberry, hebe, manuka, kanuka, flax, cabbage trees, puka and karamu. It looks great!
EXPLORE THE BUSH WALKS IN WOODRIDGE: Saturday 31 May 2008 Meet near the bus stop at the bottom of Kentwood Drive at 3 pm. Phil Donaldson will lead a walk along some new tracks in the area
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: Thursday 29 May 2008 42 B Kentwood Drive, 7.15 -. 8.15 pm Guest speaker: Michele Rowe (Chairperson, Newlands Paparangi Progressive Association) The AGM will be held from 7.15 - 7.45 pm, followed by dessert and a discussion with our guest speaker. Please let Peter know if you are attending (470 5778, peter.gilberd@rsnz.org)
OBITUARY - LAWSON ROBERTSON Woodridge Planters would like to express their condolences to the family of Lawson Robertson, a stalwart of the Newlands Paparangi community, who passed away on 9 November, 2007, aged 77. Among his many roles, Lawson was a keen environmentalist. Over the years he has done an enormous amount of work in Seton Nossiter Park, which is on the western boundary of Woodridge. Lawson was also very supportive of our Woodridge communty's planting efforts. He provided the group with seed of local native plants and also kept us informed of developments in other local parks, such as the new walking track in Seton Nossiter Park that will be officially opened in the next month or two. Lawson's funeral was attended by hundreds of people, reflecting his wide involvement in the community and the respect in which he was held. We have lost a real 'doer'. Peter Gilberd
2007
So far this season, 50 Woodridge residents (including 18 children) have taken part in the planting or helped in some other way. Another 42 people (including ...
Sunday 28 October 2007 FAMILY PLANTING DAY, 1-4 PM Favoured by the weather, 28 people including 10 children visited the park and planted 71 shrubs on the walkway! This was great effort and good fun. Many thanks to everybody for their help. So far this season, 50 Woodridge residents (including 18 children) have taken part in the planting or helped in some other way. Another 42 people (including 23 children) from Newlands, Paparangi and further afield have also helped with the planting. More than 900 trees and shrubs have been planted since May, a fantastic effort by the community!
10 August 2007 In the last few weeks we've planted about another 40 trees in the north east corner, and we've planted more Renga Renga's, grasses and Hebes in the walkway. The walkway now looks like this: 
The red line shows where the walkway will go when it's finished:
See the [link=http://woodridge.org.nz/request.php?2]Woodridge Forest Plan[/link] for an aerial view of the walkway.
18 July 2007 Despite the revolting weather 10 people turned out and we got 100 trees planted in the north east corner on 30 June. And another 20 trees the following weekend.
Don't forget that we're planting between 1pm and 3pm every Saturday. We're making good progress with the walkway - it's nearly half finished. See you in the park! 
20 June 2007 Saturday 30 June 2007, 9 am - 11 am, followed by morning tea / lunch at Peter and Juyoung's place, 42 B Kentwood Drive We will be planting about 300 trees on the north-facing slope, on the left hand side of Woodridge Park (looking south over the park from the Information Centre). Please bring whatever you can - boots, gloves, spade, pick, bucket (for compost, mulch), watering can. The area was previously covered with gorse, which has been sprayed, cut, and cleared, but there is still considerable dead gorse on the ground. Gloves are essential and a supply of them is available for those who do not have them. Children are welcome but they will need to wear protection or stay in the grassy areas. People are needed to dig, plant, add the compost, mulch and fertiliser, and water the plants. Last year's planting was a real community effort, great fun, and very effective. If you can help with the catering, please do. Enquiries to Peter (470 5778 at work, 971 2920 at home). Email: peter.gilberd@rsnz.org.
25 August 2006
The planting alongside the creek in Woodridge Park, opposite the Woodridge Information Centre, on Saturday 29 July, went extremely well. About 40 people from Woodridge turned up and, with about 20 visitors from other areas, we had 50-60 people digging, planting, adding compost and fertiliser, and watering. In addition, people from all round the neighbourhood brought food, and other people helped out in Chris and Anne-Marie's garage which was our dining room for the morning.
All 500 trees and shrubs, that we obtained from the Wellington City Council, were planted. As well as the Council, we also had sponsorship from Woodridge and Living Earth Ltd. Twiglands also supported the community planting.
It was too wet for the compost truck to deliver to the planting site so, instead, the compost was delivered in the front yard of one of the neighbouring houses. Paul, the local Jim's Mowing agent, did a wonderful job moving it to the planting site, with some willing helpers. Thank you!
Kevin Jamieson, the Volunteers Coordinator at the Council has been extremely helpful. And some members of the Glenside Stream Care Group also gave a hand.
Since the planting, there has been plenty of rain (as you would have noticed), so the plants have had a good start. As for the next step, we want to move on and remove some of the blackberry so that more planting can take place next year.
There have been several suggestions for other initiatives. Some people are keen to develop the sense of community in Woodridge. Others would like to have much smaller scale plantings on a more regular basis, with a large community planting every year.
If you have any suggestions, please let Peter know: peter.gilberd@rsnz.org