Tree planting urged at eroding sites | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

A wet winter has extended the tree planting season meaning residents in erosion-prone areas can do some last minute slip prevention, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Maf).

Maf senior programmes advisor Bryan McKinlay said continuing wet conditions had given a longer planting window than usual for poplars and willows.

"Widespread heavy rains across the region this year have accelerated movement in erosion-prone soils," Mr McKinlay said.

"Landowners have found new earth movement, and accelerated movement in existing eroding sites."

According to MAF total rainfall levels have been more than 250mm ahead of the average for this time of the year and soils have been saturated with water for longer than usual.

Mr McKinlay says anyone with work already approved under the East Coast Forestry Project (Ecfp) could still go ahead now and be paid for by Maf in this financial year.

Grants are also still available in Hawke's Bay for soil conservation pole plantings this season.

"MAF still encourages landowners to address sustainable land management on all classes of land, because we recognise erosion occurs across many landscapes," Mr McKinlay said.

He urged farmers to contact soil conservation and land management staff at Hawke's Bay Regional Council who could help with pole supply, soil conservation advice and funding.

"Your local soil conservation and land management staff are a great source of advice and guidance on these options," Mr McKinlay said.