Tree planting day a great success in Arrowtown
Perfect weather on Saturday saw about 200 locals of all ages from the Arrowtown community planting trees and clearing
scrub on Feehly Hill, a prominent landmark that overlooks Arrowtown.
A joint effort between the Arrowtown School, Wakatipu Reforestation Trust and the local community resulted in hundreds
of native trees being planted.
Feehly Hill rises steeply behind the Cemetery and War Memorial and offers superb views of the town and surrounding
basin.
“It’s an amazing place to observe the spectacular autumn colours of Arrowtown from” says local organiser and Arrowtown
Village Association committee member Erik Bradshaw. “The hill is an incredible asset that in recent years has suffered
from neglect and invasion of pest species such as wilding pines and broom.”
Over 75 children from the junior classes at Arrowtown School were involved with the planting. They had been caring for
the native plants over the last two weeks, learning about how to look after and plant the trees.
“It’s great to get the kids involved in a project that will be part of their heritage as they grow older” says Arrowtown
School teacher Nicole Fawcett. “To think when the kids return as adults they can climb the hill, walking through a
native forest and realise they helped create this is very inspiring”.
The hill has a steep track climbing from the Arrowtown township but there are plans to establish an easier route that is
suited to people of all ages and abilities. “I have been battling through a lot of spikey and unpleasant plants such as
hawthorn, rosehip, blackberry and barberry. It is a painful task but I’m confident a good track will result from these
efforts” says Bradshaw. “The hill should be the iconic, must do walk in Arrowtown, all it needs is an easier way to the
top” he says.
The project is supported by the Arrowtown Village Association using funds set aside as part of a settlement from private
property development on the western side of the hill.
ENDS