This is a multi year project with restoring the grey shrublands back to an area that was historically farmed. First planting was undertaken in 2020 and with only the natural rainfall to help it along it will be interesting to see how things progress in this harsh environment. Dunstan high school students are helping with monitoring and data collation and Rotary have been involved with the planting.

Converting an old railway yard to a native shrubland is a tough ask but that is the plan here. We are also showcasing our special smaller dryland species that love a challenging environment.

In 2018 the Haehaeata Trust took part in a citizen science project run by the Participatory Science Platform Otago to establish ‘What helps native plant regeneration?’ and could mycorrhizal fungi determine the success or failure in our local dryland native plant establishment and survival?

Volunteers surveyed vegetation and sampled the soils of native scrubland and thyme in 3 gullies on Waikeri Downs Station, near Clyde. Otago university took soil samples back to their lab to look for symbiotic fungi DNA. This investigation into soils of regenerating dryland native shrublands is breaking new ground.

School students from various local primary schools have been involved in researching environmental impacts and coming up with ways to help mitigate these and improve biodiversity at the same time.

Lookout Reserve.

In Alexandra, between Little Valley Road, and Lookout Drive: just over the old rail bridge.

Part of a pleasant Rail bridge to Shaky bridge walk on each side of the Manuherikia River

KACB and Project Gold planted 30 kowhais in 2011. In 2014 a project group was formed with local volunteers. Since then at least 100 plants from the HNHT nursery have been planted each year, by the KACB Lookout Reserve core group, and Enviroschools groups from St Gerards and Alexandra Primary schools.