Help Our Community Connect and Learn!

2021 Lock-down, the Lake Pano community was, like all New Zealanders, becoming stir crazy. We had one respite each day - our walk around the lake. Reminding us people still existed, people still cared, and we weren't alone!

In Waitākere, we're used to hopping in the car and taking a hike through the bush or a beach walk, lock-down made us realise how easily it could be taken away.

It was a heavy lesson as we realised how special and important our urban green spaces are. In Henderson Heights, we were blessed to step outside our front doors and a wee walk away awaited a beautiful urban space, with water, plants, artwork, and fresh air.

It wasn't perfect but boy did it save our community's sanity, now we want to make it perfect! We are looking to enhance our green space and create a place of connection, and education by installing signs, games and holding workshops and events.

First on the agenda is getting a local board grant to help us with pest control and signage, however, it's unlikely Council will fund us to pay for their own application fee to make changes on Council owned land! They already give a 50% discount for community groups, so we need to find the $300 to make our application.

At the moment I'm funding everything out of my own pocket - I'm an ecologist who is deeply passionate about citizen science. I'm also a solo parent, and as much as I'd love to fund the project myself, it's just not viable, so I'm reaching out for some support to get our project moving!