Clyde Railhead Community Eco-Nursery

02/09/2026

Well it really is hard to believe another year has gone by and it is AGM time again!

We love this opportunity to share with you, our supporters, volunteers and Friends, our achievements of the last year.

We also have a guest speaker. This year it is Charlie Sklenar, Department of Conservation Central Otago Operations Manager.

Her team of around 30 leaders and rangers manage one of DOC's most diverse portfolios, including 48 huts, 1,435 kilometres of tracks and 652 visitor structures across spectacular varied landscapes from Haast Pass in Tititea Mount Aspiring National Park through to the end of the Otago Central Rail Trail; all of this alongside providing recreation opportunities for thousands of visitors and conserving heritage sites. The district plays a critical role in protecting some of New Zealand's most endangered biodiversity, including threatened lizard species and nationally critical plant communities. She will be talking about some of these projects in detail.

Supper will follow.

Here are the details;
When: Thursday the 10th of September, 7pm
Where: St. Enochs Church Lounge, 12 Centennial Avenue, Alexandra

If you are able to make it, or even think you may attend we would appreciate you completing this RSVP form.

Venue: St. Enochs Church lounge, 12 Centennial Avenue, Alexandra, 7pm. Guest speaker: Charlie Sklenar talking about various local DoC projects around Central Otago

31/08/2026

Chionochloa rubra / red tussock for sale!

An interesting fundraising opportunity has come our way thanks to Paul a regular supporter of the Trust.

He has been growing red tussocks for his own home project and has a few surplus to requirements. While we are not normally an avenue for selling plants on behalf of others, $1 from each plant sold is going to be donated to the Trust.

This is not a species we grow ourselves as our restoration projects are focused on dryland habitats, but we understand that this species is becoming increasingly popular for home gardens and amenity plantings.

If you are interested or have any questions, kindly contact Paul -see details below and get in quick, they are disappearing fast!

RED TUSSOCK Chionochloa rubra $6 Root trainer grown Red Tussock suitable for planting or growing on. 25 - 30cm.
Easy planting. Make a hole with a crowbar deeper than the root depth, add compost or fertiliser tab (as per packet instructions) then plant and gently firm in place. Available in lots of 20. Share with a friend if you require fewer numbers. Collect only. Cash or verifiable e-banking. Tax invoicing available.

Paul Dodgshun
136 Hillview Rd
RD 1
ALEXANDRA 9391
027 2859400

16/08/2026

Our latest monthly newsletter is out now. Check your inboxes or heaven forbid 'junk' files, if you are yet to see it.

Items are on; the Half Mile Reserve including success rate statistics, thank you to CLT, our new nursery hours and Plant of the Month: Alpine hard fern, Austroblechnum penna-marina subsp alpina (not a mouthful at all).

If you wish to sign up to the newsletter then please click this link
https://forms.gle/xriP8iCU66PCKWie8

09/08/2026

Just an update for you all. Thank you so much for helping us out with the cancelled order. The plants all have new homes now. Except for some harakeke/flaxes.

Do you want to learn how to propagate native plants and learn more about our local species. Our volunteer nursery sessions have started back up. Current hours are 1 to 3pm every Thursday. No experience needed. Just bring along some gardening gloves and enthusiasm.

Email [email protected] should you want some more information.

07/08/2026

Looking forward to our forests maturing. Try Tiritiri Matangi on this worldwide sound map

https://timberfestival.org.uk/soundsoftheforest-soundmap/?

Explore the first ever forest soundmap of the world.

05/08/2026

Due to a cancelled order we have some surplus plants this year - the first time ever!
We have;
flaxes
toe toe
3 x Coprosma species
2 x Olearia species
kōwhai
mountain w**eberry.

They are all PB3 size and $10 each. They are from seed sourced locally so are pretty hardy!

We also have about 20 blue tussocks (Poa colensoi). Small size $3 each.

We only have a few of some of the above so if you are interested or want more information get in quick.

Please email Rach at [email protected].
(those plants are in the photo below somewhere)

01/08/2026

Plus one more photo from the Half Mile Stage four planting team today.

01/08/2026

🥳Woohoo, we did it! 400 trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses went in today. A record days effort and a record 1,016 natives planted in a season at the Half Mile.

Thank you to today's helpers, everyone who attended any of this years plantings and a special thank you to Mason. He hung out with me all day setting out plants, gear and planting. This is an amazing team effort and we couldn't have done it without you

That is it for the season. Keep an ear out for our monthly maintenance sessions once daylight savings hit. Otherwise see you next year.

31/07/2026

What a beautiful day for planting and what a back drop! Come join us for the last planting of the season. 400 plants need your help, they want to get out of their bags!

Parking is at 95 Aronui road then follow the cones up onto the Hafmile Reserve. You should see us over in the North eastern corner.

Bring gloves, a trowel if you have one and some warm layers.

See you at 1pm.

31/07/2026

Sir Sam Neill.
We, the Trustees of the Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust, join our local community in mourning the loss of our friend and generous contributor, Sir Sam Neill.
Like the Dunstan Hospital Foundation and local cultural groups, we have benefitted significantly from Sam’s extraordinary generous spirit. As well as his w**e company, Two Paddocks investing as a formal friend of HNHT for three years (with double contributions to boot), Sam personally donated to us significant monies that have enabled nursery extension, further development of the Korimako Corner and not to mention that beloved auger that has made our planting days such a success.

We lament the loss of a very kind caring man, who treasured and understood the fragility of our local environs, who took personal action and enabled others to do likewise; a true leader of nature.

At this time of Mātariki, perhaps a whakatauki that might serve Sir Sam goes:

Waiho rā kia tū takitahi
Ana ngā whetū o te rangi

(Let it be one alone that stands among the other stars in the sky)

Haera rā Sir Sam Neill.