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Native tree planting and creation of a memorial bench in memory of Elizabeth Blythe

  • First tree planting

      17 June 2023
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    Hi All

    On an overcast and occasionally showery day a team of 12 planted the first of 350 native trees in memory of Elizabeth at the Ed Hilary Hope Reserve. A big thanks to Bill who had prepared the site and placed the trees where he wanted them planted. Also a big thanks to those planting: Arnica, Berlinda, Cathy, Lucia, Fiona, Jude, Dell, Briar, Richard and Werner. The next trip out there will be late in spring to weed around the trees. Scott

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  • Elizabeth's seat is in place and tree planting this weekend

      12 June 2023
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    Hi everyone

    Thanks for your generosity.

    A memorial seat for Elizabeth is now in place just downstream of a small waterfall on the Waitakaruru river in Morrinsville. It is accessible by foot from the recreation ground car park or from the Walton road. It is a nice quiet spot amongst large trees.

    We will be planting the first of 300 trees for Elizabeth at the Ed Hillary Hope Reserve (732 Old Mountain Road) starting at 10 am this coming Saturday (17 June).

    All are welcome to come and help plant.

    The access from the Te Pahu Rd end is narrow and shingled, so you may want to come in via the Waitetuna end. The latter route is about 66 km from Morrinsville and take about one hour.

    Please bring a spade, boots (it's a one km walk into the planting site), wet weather gear and food.

    We have about 300 trees to plant and depending on how many people turn up there will be about half a days work.

    I appreciate if people could let me know if their plan to come so I get some idea of numbers and hence how quickly we might get through the tree planting (and to let the people at Ed Hillary Hope know). So email me on smcdougall@anexa.co.nz to let me know.

    Yours

    Scott McDougall

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  • great progress

      28 February 2023
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    Thank you for everyone who has contributed thus far. We now have nearly $3,500.

    On Sunday I met with Bill Carlson, the honorary ranger for the Ed Hillary Hope trust reserve on behalf of the Native Forest Restoration Trust. Bill has identified a site for planting. It's an area surrounded by native bush, but that has been grazed and does require replanting. Bill is going to talk with the ecologist and with the nursery to see what trees are available to plant this year and with a view to planting trees over the next couple of years.

    So again, thank you everyone for their donations and I'm looking forward to getting some trees in the ground.

    Yours Scott McDougall

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  • great progress

      3 February 2023

    Thanks to everyone who has donated to help create a memorial seat and plant some native trees in Elizabeth's memory. Great that we've reached the $2000 mark. We are meeting with Council today (Friday New Zealand time) to find a site for the memorial seat. Additionally we have been talking with the Native Forest Restoration Trust about organising some planting this and next autumn.

    Yours Scott McDougall

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