A practical workshop on wetland restoration will be held in Whanganui

On Friday, September 25, the Brunswick Hall will host a practical workshop entitled "Enhancing Wetlands", organised by the Whanganui Region Catchment Collective (WRCC). The event is aimed at farmers and rural landowners who have wetlands on their land, participants with wet or low-productivity areas on their farms, as well as those planning to restore a wetland or wishing to better understand the topic.

The workshop will be led by Dr Rebecca Eivers, a freshwater ecologist and wetland specialist from Wai Kōkopu Consulting. She comes from a sheep and beef farming background in Gisborne and works with farmers, landowners and local communities to find practical solutions that support landscape productivity and ecosystem health. The main thesis of her presentation will be the approach "the right wetland in the right place for the right reason". The specialist will talk about identifying locations for wetlands, their types, as well as planting and management methods.

During the event, participants will visit the farm of Harriet and Dave Hyde in Westmere, who last year restored part of the wetlands at the headwaters of a stream flowing into Kai Iwi Beach. On their sheep and beef farm, with the support of a grant from the Horizons Regional Council and the help of schoolchildren, 3 hectares of wetlands were planted.

According to the materials, wetlands with a constant level of dampness in the soil act as natural filters and "sponges", slowing down water runoff and trapping pollutants such as sediment and E. coli. The restoration of such zones on agricultural land helps to control weeds in marginal pastures and improves the quality of water flowing towards neighbouring areas.