CUE Haven Community Restoration
Supporting the transformation of a former dairy farm into native forest
Client:
CUE Haven Community Trust
Location:
Araparera, Kaipara Coast
Services:
Ecological Consultancy / Management Planning / Native Plant Nursery / Operations & Implementation / Community Engagement
Project Overview
CUE Haven is a community restoration project transforming a 24-hectare former dairy farm on the Kaipara Harbour into native forest and wetland habitat.
Since 2008, thousands of volunteers have helped plant more than 169,000 ecosourced native trees. Scrub has supported the project with restoration planning, plant supply, early planting and ongoing ecological advice.
Project Scale
169,000+
NATIVE TREES PLANTED ACROSS THE PROJECT
24 ha
OF FORMER FARMLAND IN RESTORATION
2008
RESTORATION PROGRAMME BEGAN
Our role
Scrub’s involvement spans the original restoration plan through to long-term reserve management and community support.
· Property restoration plan prepared in 2008
· Long-term Reserve Management Plan prepared in 2020
· Ecosourced seed collection and plant propagation
· Early planting before volunteer groups became involved
· Planting maintenance through to canopy closure
· Onsite nursery development, seedling supply and environmental education
Restoring a connected habitat
Planting has linked bush remnants and restored wetland areas. Alongside intensive pest control, this work has improved water quality, supported natural regeneration and encouraged native birds and aquatic life to return.
A reserve for the community
Following completion of the bulk of restoration in 2017, Thomas and Mahrukh gifted the property to the CUE Haven Community Trust. The reserve now supports school outdoor education and university research into native planting and wetland regeneration. Scrub continues to provide project advice.
