Meet the Auckland man with a green thumb idea that's raising funds for Youthline

December 19, 2018

Mark Adcock is selling 1 million swan plants to raise money for at-risk youth.

It's monarch butterfly season and some of you may have noticed there seem to be fewer around this year.

Auckland dad Mark Adcock has taken note of their plight and bought a million swan plant seeds in the hopes he could help boost monarch butterfly numbers and help young people at the same time.

Swan plants sustain monarch caterpillars, and the need for more of the plants led Mr Adcock to a "great idea" during a very grim time for his family.

"My child got bullied, cyberbullied, it was horrific - it blew a hole in the whole family, in her education. We were dealing with teachers, police and the ombudsman," he told TVNZ1's Seven Sharp.

"I had a Eureka moment, I thought my god, the struggle of the butterfly and the children, metamorphosis, their hormones and I saw the similarities.

"Egg to a caterpillar, chrysalis to a butterfly, it so marries up with what kids go through."

Now, Mr Adcock has renamed the swan plant seeds, Hope Seeds and is selling them to raise money for at-risk youth and to help save the monarch butterfly.

"30 cents from every packet goes to Youthline NZ, and 20 cents to The Monarch Butterfly Trust of NZ," he says.

Mr Adcock is hoping his idea and more monarch butterflies both take flight this summer.

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