Eastbourne Dune Group
Eastbourne Dune Group
This group received the 2015 Best Coastal Community Group Award at the Coastal Restoration Trust’s annual conference for Outstanding Contribution to Coastal Revegetation.
Here some information about the group from coordinator David McDougall in his own words:
Our group began in 2001 to counter the local cricket club’s plan to extend the HW Shortt Recreation Ground 25 metres onto the dunes and beach. This battle lasted four years before Hutt City Council rejected their plan. HCC has supported us, and supplied us with plants ever since, and for the first five years Wellington Regional Council also supplied us with plants and their expertise under the ‘Take Care’ program. In 2003 we began restoring 600 metres of beach and dunes by removing exotic species - tree medick, imported marram grass etc. To date we have planted over 15,000 eco-sourced native plants, shrubs, flaxes and rushes. We now have 20 plus native species growing on our patch.
Our group of twenty, several of whom have worked with us since day one, meet on the first Saturday of each month at 9-00am. On average around 10 people turn up to weed or plant. They are a diverse, interesting group of people. We work for two hours, then meet for coffee and muffins (very important), and a chat. This part of the project has helped forge a bond of friendship. It is an all-round satisfying activity - particularly seeing the way our patch has been transformed to date.
Contact:
Phone: David & Judith McDougall (04) 562 7757