1100 Trees in the Ground in Puhoi 🌱🌳

There’s something pretty satisfying about finishing a morning with muddy boots, tired arms and 1100 trees in the ground.

Today, Restore Rodney East joined forces with Toyota, Mangawhai Honey, Auckland Council Local Parks and some very handy local volunteers to get planting as part of Toyota’s Plant a Tree scheme.

We dodged the rain, rolled up our sleeves and got stuck in — working together to give this special Puhoi spot a little more life and create future habitat for nature and people.

But days like this are about more than getting trees in the ground.

For RRE, they’re also about building relationships with corporate partners, connecting with new volunteers and creating opportunities for people to get involved in caring for their local environment.

Toyota’s Plant a Tree initiative provided the opportunity, but it was the people who turned it into action. Bringing together a business, community organisations, Auckland Council Local Parks and local volunteers shows what can happen when we work collaboratively and share a common goal.

It was also a chance to celebrate the end of another planting season — and to give something back to the community and to our local parks.

Every tree planted today represents future habitat, shade, food and shelter. Over time, these 1100 trees will become part of a much bigger living landscape — benefiting birds, insects and other wildlife, as well as the people who use and enjoy this place.

And, of course, no Puhoi planting day would be complete without a feed afterwards!

We were generously shouted lunch and a drink at the world-famous — and my local! — Puhoi Pub. A pretty good way to finish a productive morning and celebrate a job well done.

A huge special thanks to Dan Marrow for yet another planting season and for always going the extra mile to make these days happen. His energy, commitment and willingness to bring people together make a real difference.

Good people. Good collaboration. New connections. 1100 more trees.

And now we let nature do its thing. 🌱💚