Co-operation gets the job done

Duntroon School pupils Sophia Bayne (6, left) and Zara Pope (10) join Fonterra Clandeboye’s James Riley at a community planting day in the the Duntroon Wetlands yesterday.

The eight-year-old, roughly 4ha wetlands is partially on land owned by dairy farmer and Duntroon and District Development Association committee member Geoff Keeling and his wife, Jan.

Mr Keeling rang up Fonterra Waitaki area manager Jackie Dalziel to ask if anyone from the co-operative wanted to join the children from Duntroon School in a planting day and she rustled up a group of 10 to pitch in.

Duntroon Wetlands hosts three working bees a year, but volunteer numbers have waned in recent years. Mr Keeling said the extra help meant "you suddenly get so much more achieved".