With 217 members and devoted staff the Environment Group has made amazing progress this year.

2023 has been another successful year as we work to create habitat for our local birds and bugs. Our plantings now run from Te Uru on the lower grounds to the lake in Jellie Park. This could not happen without the huge effort made every week by our dedicated team. We estimate that we have now planted over 6000 native trees, shrubs and grasses along the Hewlings stream. We have also now joined forces with Riccarton Predator Free and have established a trap line in Te Uru. As we reduce the local rat population we hope to attract more birds who will enjoy better, safer and more successful nesting conditions. The forest has also seen change as two very established but increasingly rotten and dangerous willows were removed. The willows had served their purpose as they sheltered our more tender species from the frost but now we have two large clearings that will be the focus of our early plantings in 2024. In addition to our amazing staff and students we need to thank Trees for Canterbury for their continued support, the City Council for their generous plant allocation and Daltons who have very kindly given us huge piles of compost to support the community garden and the potting up of our native seedlings. We look forward to another busy year in 2024 and would encourage any interested students to come out on a Wednesday afternoon and join the team.