Nurseryman Caleb Scott at The Landing in the Bay of Islands, where before and after photos show the dramatic effects of the replanting programme he's run there over the last 20 years.
This Christmas we're bringing thousands of little native trees to Britomart in our own little reforestation project - and you can help.
Maybe it was inevitable that Caleb Scott would be a plantsman. He grew up helping his parents at their nursery in Whangārei, and for the last 20 years has been responsible for a major wetland restoration and reforestation project at The Landing, a 1,000-acre property in the Bay of Islands that is owned by the same people behind the redevelopment of Britomart.
In December, Caleb is coming to Britomart with thousands of little native plants grown with seeds from trees he established at The Landing. Forget about fake trees (or exotic real ones that get binned in the new year): Britomart invites you to celebrate the season and help the planet at the same time by taking home some of Caleb’s saplings – there will be kaihikatea, pōhutukawa, karo, whārangi, tī kōuka and more to choose from – for your own perpetual Christmas plantation.
Britomart is giving away in the trees in exchange for a gold coin donation (which you'll be able to make using our Westpac mobile payment terminals) which we'll pass on in full to the Native Forest Restoration Trust, which has been protecting and regenerating tracts of forest and wetland throughout New Zealand since 1980. So while the native trees you take home are growing in your garden (or a pot outside), your donation will be helping other native trees flourish elsewhere.
The trees will not only be greening up Takutai Square, but will be in shops and offices all over Britomart, so you’re welcome to pick one up for yourself from December 11-19.
