2024 Scholarship Recipient: The Seed Ladies

The Seed Ladies

How long has the group been in existence?

Since March 2023

How many people are in your group?

Three Seed Collection ladies with Permits who also prepare, sow, propagate the seedlings and care for the pricked out seedlings

Two additional volunteers for the seed collection and propagation

Ten Nursery Nannies and Grampies (two of which also have the Seed Collection Permits)

In total for the different stages and roles we are currently a group of 13 volunteers.

Focus of the group?

The focus of our group is many-fold. It began with a wish to give back to Papatuanuku/Nature, to further advance the evolving work of the Te Awa Kura Barnett Park Regreening Group whilst additionally assisting the hard working Rangers of CCC, and lastly, we aim to involve as many members of the community as we can. Some members may not be able to easily take part in the physical work in the valley during the week, but wish to be an active member of the Te Awa Kura Barnett Park Regreening Group. After-all, community involvement is key.

In five years’ time what would you like to have achieved?

It would be wonderful to see our own plants thriving in the valley and in other areas along the Port Hills. For this we need to have a continued consistent team dedicated to each stage of the project.

What are the challenges you face to achieve your 5 year goal?

To see our plants thriving in the valley and along the Port Hills we need to have a continued consistent team dedicated to each stage of the project. As we are all volunteers, time is always against us, but we must continue to work with the ticking clock of nature. We need to have consistent funds to continue the work and to make sure that the plants we grow are appropriate for each future project.

A Message to sponsor?

On behalf of our whole group and everyone who uses and enjoys Te Awa Kura Barnett Park, thank you. This fund means that we can continue to plan for future years and to set up our working spaces robustly. We will make sure that every cent is used wisely, to see the valley thrive once again for future generations and to help in some small way to re-cloak Papatuanuku.