We’re back to usual 1st Sunday of the month working bees now.
Well, what a great day for the Rugby Legends planting.
About 80 volunteers along with lots of little kids carried plants up the hill and ventured onto steep slopes to plant almost 2,500 plants (including those planted the day before by Paraparaumu Beach school kids). It was sunny and bright and after a hard morning hot dogs were ready for us, prepared by the Paraparaumu Rugby Club juniors along with hot drinks, chippies and muffins. There are a few flaxes left and we’ll do those on Sunday. There is funding for one more year and that will extend planting up to the Kāpiti Lookout and join to the original bush. KCDC recently donated toetoe and kowhai which we will plant on the bank this next working bee on Sunday.
Many thanks to all who were involved.
Volunteers have been busy. Liffet and Dick have weed eaten accesses through the original 2007/08 plantings by the main race. Do go and check them out and feel free to cut any flowering gorse, it’s good to get it before it seeds. Some trees could still do with releasing from the enveloping grass, especially the kahikatea. We will do some more “infill” planting with titoki and kowhai.
Dave and Peter are tackling blackberry the worst job for volunteers. Dave did along the main race and Peter up by the pines by Ti Kouka Stream. Jan, Liffet, Ann and Sue continue their early morning thistle attacks
Ann did a botancial survey of regeneration at the heads of the valleys where the mountain bike track is proposed to go. Lots of interesting things are popping up: nikau, tawa, a rimu, lancewoods, olearia, clematis, tree ferns, rewarewa as well as the usual bush regen plants: mahoe, coprosmas, pepper trees, pittos etc. It’s all been brought in by birds and wind and demonstrates how lucky Whareroa is to have good seed sources on site.
A group of mountain bikers installed two “Gibson Grates” across the fence gaps in the upper Link Track lots of digging. No more gates to open or risk of cattle getting in.
Others we know of who work regularly at Whareroa are Don and Mary Beggs and Tony and Helen Griffiths. Helen has offered to continue the bird monitoring for another year that’s great. The falcon was seen cruising last weekend. We wonder if they may nest in the gums.
If you’re helping the regeneration on Whareroa, we’d love to know!
There’s lots that can be done to help plant establishment especially clearing long grass away from the base of the plants so that they are not smothered last year’s plants along Ti Kouka Stream are already having to compete with this year’s grass which is growing vigorously. Also cutting any gorse in the planting areas is appreciated.
Again, thanks to everyone contributing to Whareroa: volunteers and DOC staff.
Whareroa Farm Plan. A 2nd draft has emerged and is being closely studied.
Further development: A “containment toilet” is soon going to be put in at the Hub as most users are based at or beyond there.
Forthcoming dates:
Sunday Sept 2nd 9-noon. Working Bee. More entrance bank and infill planting (KCDC donated plants). Also releasing for those who prefer that. Bring grubbers, spades, hand saws if you want to cut some gorse in plantings. Wear strong footwear. Hope to see you then.
Sundays Oct 7th and Nov 4th 9-noon. Working Bees. More info to follow.
Wednesday Oct 10th Mental Health Awareness Week. Lunchtime picnic, BBQ and planting (carex in Dell wetland). All welcome.
