A Canterbury sustainability project that has resulted in more than 40,000 natives trees being planted in the region will be celebrated in Leeston this month.
The Tinaku Project was established in June 2020 by Ellesmere Sustainable Agriculture Inc (ESAI), a farmer-led catchment group in Leeston, after receiving funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Jobs for Nature and Extension.
Work completed includes growing membership and over 40 riparian planting projects on members’ farms totalling more than 40,000 natives along 11km of rivers and streams.
The project has also facilitated and funded extensive water quality monitoring along three lowland streams as well as testing members’ bore water for nitrates. Over the course of three years, Tinaku staff have organised events and workshops that have been attended by about 500 people.
The event is being organised by ESAI and Sarah Perriam, of Perriam Media, to celebrate the work achieved by the project.
The initial three years of funding ends in June and ESAI wants to arrange an event where members and other farmers from around the region can hear about the work achieved, but also be encouraged and inspired to think positively about their farming futures.
Perriam will host the event and be joined by a panel of guests.
The guests are:
• Hamish Gow, the Sir Graeme Harrison Professorial chair in Global Value Chains and Trade.
• Rhys Roberts, chief executive of Align Farms, six dairy and one dairy support in Mid-Canterbury, who was the 2022 Zanda McDonald Award winner.
• Tim Jones, founder/ chief executive of Grow Good, New Zealand’s first qualified B Consultant.
• Mandy Bell, a Central Otago deer farmer at Criffel Station near Wānaka, a veterinarian, director and business owner in the primary sector, biotec and tourism industries.
• Gabi and Doug Micheal, a fifth-generation family of barley growers in the Canterbury Plains. In 2004, the couple established Gladfield Malt, a 100% family-owned maltings.
The event is being held on Friday, April 28 at Lakeside Soldiers Memorial Hall near Leeston. Doors open at 5:30pm.
