Most people in Lower Hutt only have a small amount of free time to spend on passion projects, so it’s important to pick the right activities. Here are some fantastic ways to help our local environment while having fun:
- Sustainable Coastlines runs beach cleanup events locally, and is part of the Litter Intelligence programme, Aotearoa’s first national litter database. You can find out more here.
- The Petone Beach Clean Up Crew are a group who run beach cleanup activities on Petone beach, Port Road beach cove in Seaview, Turakirae Head Seal Colony in Wainuiomata, and the Eastbourne Coast.
- Friends of Petone Beach are a group of proactive volunteers who have been restoring Petone dunes since 2006. They run a lot of friendly, science-led activities in the area, including working bees on the first Sunday of each month at the beachfront across from Patrick St in Petone (just look for the flag!).
- Keep Hutt Valley Beautiful tackles environmental and beautification projects including litter, graffiti and weed removal and undertake planting.
- Led by Council and supported by the Department of Conservation, Predator Free Hutt Valley helps residents to start trapping group, and shows which local groups you can join today.
- The Waiu Wetland activities run by A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand’s Waiu Wetland subgroup and Forest & Bird in Wainuiomata
- Friends of Waiwhetū Stream is a community group who strive to ensure that Waiwhetū Stream is a healthy functioning ecosystem and is treasured and enjoyed by the local community.
- Forest & Bird’s Manor Park group is working to establish an eco-corridor across the Hutt Valley at Silverstream. The group meets Tuesday mornings from 9.30am, with a break at around 11am for morning tea. Contact Margaret Anderson via margaret.anderson@outlook.co.nz to find out more.
- Friends of Horoeka Scenic Reserve hold regular working bees to weed and plant, while also partnering with schools to educate students on the importance of protecting local biodiversity. Working bees are mostly on the second Sunday of every month, running from 9am to 12pm.