Trail plantings present sunnier future

Collective action by a cross-section of Marlburians, intertwining renewable power production, active transport and native rewilding, has underlined the region’s efforts to “do things better”.

On Thursday, students from Riverlands School, Bohally Intermediate and Marlborough Girls’ College joined Whale Trail volunteers, Rānui Solar landowner Rick Osborne, Rangitane o Wairau representatives and Rotary Blenheim South members to plant natives along the Whale Trail where the Trail backs onto the solar farm next to State Highway 1.

Whale Trail spokesperson Nigel Muir believes the combination of active transport, native reclamation planting and renewable solar energy on Blenheim’s outskirts is a future-focused welcome to town. “All three of these actions within about 10 meters of each other have in their heart a very similar mantra, which is about doing things better as we go forward into the future and Rick’s been a fabulous supporter of the Trail so it’s great we’re here today working with him.

“We want this Trail to go past and take in the features of the changing landscape of Marlborough and Kaikōura, so getting students involved now and seeing the ongoing impact on making their regular bike ride beautiful over the next few years is ideal.”

With the land along the Trail being replanted with natives, Rick Osborne was pleased by the multifaceted impacts he can already see working together for everyone into the future.

“It’s our locally produced power from Marlborough sunshine, our cycleways for travel and tourism, and native plants planted by local kids who will see the impact they make here today only grow through time.

“These plants will grow into the space and soften the feel of the solar farm, to the point they’re acting to bring birdlife and wildlife here and becomes a regular part of the landscape and community.”

Riverlands School teacher Sophie Carr says it wasn’t hard to get volunteers to help plant the nearby area many students travel past every day.

“As many of our kids cycle down this section of the trail or when our kids train for cross-country, they come past here so there’s plenty of connection to this area on our doorstep.

“We decided that our school’s Enviro Club leaders should set the example – I was only allowed to bring 10 down out of many who were keen.

“But it’s great for the students to be involved, take pride in their community and be able to point out what they did, and we’ll definitely have more kids down here planting again soon.”