Northern Southland Reforestation Trust (Reforest Southland) – Lumsden Community Nursery
Reforest Southland is a reforestation trust and community nursery, based in Lumsden, that aims to bring native flora and fauna back to the area while promoting community growth and ecological education.
The Lumsden Community Nursery is an integral part of these reforestation projects. Situated in the centre of Lumsden, the nursery has been designed with community involvement in mind, to grow the seedlings and plants required for the Trust’s planting objectives. With the support of a grant from Community Trust South the nursery is now fully set up ready to use. The ground was prepared, fencing put up and weed matting put down over a few volunteer nursery sessions. Plant beds have been created and plants have been potted and re-potted with the help of local volunteers.
The nursery will grow plants that naturally grow in the region from seeds or plant cuttings ensuring there is no future conflict with the local ecological environment. Once grown and ready for replanting, Reforest Southland holds working bees where local community volunteers increase native flora and fauna in the region through their planting projects.
“We have run a few planting sessions near the Lumsden creek and that is now looking really lovely. We have had lots of positive comments regarding our project and get a good turnout to our nursery sessions and to our planting sessions around the creek. We have sorted out our next area of planting and are in discussions with the council regarding how we can achieve this.” Jeanna Rodgers – Reforest Southland
The reforestation and revegetation projects, such as replanting the Lumsden Creek, increase the number of native plants and trees in the local area, providing habitat and food for native birds, fish and invertebrates, while aligning with the government’s local and national plans to plant 1 billion trees by 2028.
In its first year the Trust reached its target to grow 10,000 native plants and trees through the Lumsden Community Nursery, 70% of which will be donated for community plantings and 30% will be sold to cover running costs of the nursery. Monthly plant sales are being held for the local community, and the team are building great connections with local landowners and farmers to supply plants for some bigger projects.
With close links to local schools and support from the community the nursery aims to bring the community together in an inclusive ‘green space’ and replanting projects create spaces where people can enjoy time in a bio-diverse, natural setting which can have positive effects on mental health and wellbeing.