Rotary clubs in the Bay of Plenty are this weekend hosting initiatives under the banner of “Footprints for our Future”, whereby the clubs are inviting participation from the public.

The aims are to create long-term impact and strengthen community connection to land and water.

Rotary’s Bay of Plenty community group leader, Carmen Goodwin, from Tauranga, said, “Our shared goal is to protect and generate our local environments whilst inspiring meaningful action for a healthier future.”

In support of this initiative Whakatāne Rotary is holding an open day at the reserve at Port Ōhope/Ōhiwa, by the end of Elizabeth Street on the harbour side this Saturday, September 13, from 9.30am until 12pm.  

Rotary members will be doing maintenance to the previous plantings by clearing grass and weeds from around them as well as staking and tying them, with assistance from Whakatāne and Trident high schools Interact club members who have assisted previously with plantings.

The club has native plants available for children to plant and will give assistance in planting them and, in addition will place a peg in the ground by the plant with the child’s name on it so they can in the future check on its growth and help keep it healthy, hopefully creating a future interest for them.

There will be a sausage sizzle with free sausages for the children and if there are enough plants, they can take one home.

This reserve near Elizabeth Street has the Ōhope Harbour side trail for walking or cycling going along the harbour side of it and ends at the Port Ōhope wharf.

The trail was a Rotary initiative and has become very popular, it starts in Waterways Drive and comes out at the mown grassy reserve right by the harbour and recommences opposite the Port Ōhope store and ends at the wharf.

The Rotary Club recently installed some park benches overlooking the harbour in the final section of the trail. It is well worth walking or cycling the trail and it is not too strenuous.