Walkway History

The project commenced in May 2005 when Fonterra (then Kiwi Dairies) retired out this step gully from farming and planned to plant 6000 native trees and grasses within the gully as part of their riparian planting program. 

Doug Hutchinson, who was the companies Engineering Manager at the time, suggested to the Environmental Manager Karen Leov, that she should involve the local school children.  “Great idea” she said “you organise it” and so he did.

He also organised the local Rotary Club members to help by building and installing several seating for future picnic spots

And convinced local contractor who was working on a project for the company close by to get on board the project by donating rocks and building two large rock gardens 

And arranged for factory staff and conservation volunteers to build tracks and stairways throughout the Walkway 

And the building of bird boxes and specialist planted gardens throughout the Walkway 

And the planting of specialist native shrubs with flowers rich in nectar to feed the bees and butterfly

And got schools involved with the growing of hundreds of Swan Plants each year to feed the Monarch caterpillar