Volunteers plant native grasses and help build Arataki dunes

Kerry Willoughby and Chris Ward help out in the Coast Care working bee. Photo/George Novak

It was a beautiful day for volunteers planting native grasses at Arataki Beach yesterday.

Coast Care held a working bee on the dunes off the Arataki Beach access way with plans to plant 600 pingao and spinifex plants. Volunteers gathered at the site to lend a hand with the planting.

Arataki local Kerry Willoughby was a first-time volunteer helping out on the dunes.

She said she was happy to spend a sunny day on the beach.

"I think these guys do a fantastic job. I'm all for it, really."

Mr Willoughby said she heard about the working bee when she found a leaflet in her mailbox. "I will definitely come and do this again."

Chris Ward, Coast Care contractor, said the working bee was aiming to replace the exotic weeds on the dunes with native vegetation to more effectively build the dunes.

He said Coast Care was focusing on bringing in pingao and spinifex in front of Tauranga City Council encroachment areas. There will be more dune planting events in the next two months.

For more information about Coast Care events, visit www.boprc.govt.nz.