Giving Native Plants the Best Chance to Thrive

Liam Foote, one of Citycare Property’s Ecological Field Worker has spent much of his working life helping plants establish and grow.

From motorway planting projects in the North Island to restoration sites across Canterbury, his career has focused on helping landscapes thrive.

"I got into this because I liked being outdoors," Liam says. "As a kid, I was always tramping, and my dad worked in landscaping, so I was around planting projects from an early age."

After studying horticulture, Liam began in vegetation and planting work, contributing to projects along the Southern Motorway before completing an arboriculture apprenticeship. He later worked on major North Island projects including Transmission Gully, the Waikato Expressway and motorway developments around Huntly.

"We'd plant the sites, then maintain them through summer to keep them from being overgrown," he says. "A lot of what we did was about giving the plants the best chance to establish."

That experience gave Liam a practical understanding of how challenging it can be for native species to compete.

"New Zealand natives tend to be slow growing. Introduced plants can be so competitive and can outgrow them quickly."

Liam joined Citycare Property's ecological team in 2022 and quickly found himself drawn to restoration planting work.

"Specifically, the planting side is why I wanted to be part of this team," he says. "I like seeing what I've put in the ground grow."

While his background was in horticulture and arboriculture, ecological restoration introduced new skills and knowledge.

"There's quite a bit of training in ecology, so I had to get up to speed. Every site is different and requires a different approach."

That adaptability is one of the qualities Liam considers most important in the role.

"You need to understand what works in different situations, what techniques to use, and how to meet the requirements of the site and the contract. Every area needs a different approach."

Over the years, Liam has contributed to planting projects in many different places, and he still feels a sense of pride when he returns to sites and sees them maturing.

"Especially the sites I've planted myself, I like seeing how they've grown over time."

For Liam, the work is ultimately about protecting what belongs in the landscape.

“Natives were here before us and they’re supposed to be here,” he says.

That belief underpins the ecological work Citycare Property teams deliver across restoration sites. Whether they are planting, controlling invasive species or maintaining established areas, the focus is on creating the right conditions for native ecosystems to recover and flourish. It is work that relies on practical field experience, technical knowledge and a long-term commitment to environmental stewardship.

Every site is another opportunity to give native plants the best chance to thrive.