Sir Colin Meads at the 2012 Taupo Living Legends event

Rugby Legends to complete major conservation project

Rugby Legends such as Buck Shelford, Sir Brian Lochore, Sir Colin Meads and John Sturgeon will be donning their gumboots and planting trees alongside thousands of New Zealanders for the last year of Living Legends events in August 2013.

Living Legends is a community conservation project that was set up in 2011 to leave a legacy of New Zealand’s hosting of Rugby World Cup. So far more almost 130,000 native trees have been planted across 17 locations throughout New Zealand. A total of 170,000 trees will be planted at the conclusion of this year’s events.

Each planting project is dedicated to a regional ‘Rugby Legend’ who was selected in 2011 by their provincial rugby union. These Rugby Legends are people who have made an outstanding contribution to rugby in New Zealand.

Devon McLean, Project Manager of Living Legends says that as well as celebrating rugby, the project will contribute hugely to conservation in New Zealand. “We’re very proud of our commitment to helping to restore New Zealand’s bio-diversity with our Rugby Legends. Living Legends was established as an opportunity for people to get involved in the restoration of native tree populations alongside Rugby Legends in their local community” says Devon McLean, Project Manager for Living Legends. “We look forward to reaching our target of 170,000 native trees being planted by the end of this year’s events”.

Visit www.livinglegends.co.nz to find out more about how you can take part in Living Legends planting events in 2013, and to register for an event.
Planting events will take place in;
Northland, 1 September
North Harbour, 17 August
Rotorua, 18 August
Hamilton, 24 August
Taupo, 25 August
Napier, 17 August
New Plymouth, 18 August
Manawatu, 25 August
Wellington, 24 August
Punakaiki, 1 September
Christchurch, 17 August
Ashburton, 18 August
Dunedin, 25 August
Invercargill, 24 August

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