Pictured: ​Volunteers digging holes ready for the new plants. Photo courtesy of Alan Knowles​.​

The group consisting of local hutholders, Forest & Bird members and Council staff planted around 350 grasses and trees in make-shift planter boxes formed by felled contorta pine trees.

One of the major problems of wilding conifers like contorta pine is that they spread rapidly. Removing these trees from the landscape gets rid of the seed source, however as campers and other visitors to the lakes still need shelter, the volunteers are replacing the felled trees with more appropriate species.​

​Pictured: Putting guards around the new plants to help them establish and thrive. (Left to right) Shannon, Tom and Alice Johnson (hutholders), Bert Hofmans (ADC) and Val Clemens (Forest & Bird). Photo courtesy of Alan Knowles.

This approach is outlined in the Lakes Camp and Clearwater Landscape Management Plan that was developed by Council with community input from the Ashburton Biodiversity Working Group, Department of Conservation, Iwi and the Lake Clearwater Hutholders Association.

One of the main priorities of the plan is to control wilding conifers, which pose a significant threat to biodiversity while also restoring existing native high country vegetation.

Pictured: (left to right) ​Helen Young (hutholder), Bert Hofmans (ADC), Maureen Keen (hutholder), Gavin Young (hutholder) and Terry O'Neil (ADC). Photo courtesy of Alan Knowles.

Further improvements are programmed at the lakes over the next eight months, including weed and pest control activities, improvements to the track around Lake Camp and wilding conifer removal.

Anyone who would like to lend a hand at these activities or take part in future planting days are encouraged to contact the Council by phoning 03 307 7700 or email info@adc.govt.nz​. Volunteers are always welcome.

Pictured: Plotting out the grasses and trees ready to be planted and sorting out the plant guards. Photo courtesy of Alan Knowles.

The Council is also asking people to keep an eye out for environmentally damaging activities around the lakes such as 4WD vehicles driving on the lake bed and ripping up the mud, as this practice is not good for water quality.

The Council wishes to thank the many hutholders and Forest & Bird volunteers for their great work helping to improve Lakes Camp and Clearwater.​​