A Summary for the year that was, 2010.

Far more was achieved than ever expected in the three months from the first working bee on 6th October. This is a credit to all the people involved.
We put in 122 man/woman hours on the Wednesday working bees and 30 man/woman hours on the three Saturday working bees.
This amounted to a substantial clearance of Honey Suckle vine which released the existing native flora so that it will re establish under the shade and protection of the willows.
A flood proof bridge designed to float up and down again (photo top) has been built and put in place across the creek so there is now easy access to the area we are working on without going through the bog!
10 x 1.5m high Kahikatea supplied by Council were planted among the Astelia in October and all look to have established well with strong new growth evident.
287 understory (shrubs and small trees) plants were obtained from council and planted out in the damp areas in December. These were unwanted plants from the HCC Nursery. Because of the urgency of getting them into the ground some species were planted in unsuitable locations and have died or are not thriving. However, others are doing well.
From the same source we have 8 varieties totaling 153 plants that we are holding over to the autumn. These will be planted in the correct location for each species so the survival rate should be much better for the ones not suited to boggy ground.
90 Kahikatea (photo bottom) and 84 Kowhai seedlings have been potted up to grow on for planting out in two to three years time.
Members have donated for the purchase of established potted trees. The varieties selected were 4 x Swamp Maire, 3 x Puketea, 1 x Kahikatea. These are all canopy trees that thrive in swamp with potential to grow 25 to 30m. They have been purchased but yet to be collected and planted.

And that was the year that was!




PS. Don't forget if you double clip on the photos they will enlarge. Clip on the back arrow returns you to your page.

Experimental Ivy control

On the gully at the end of Sexton Rd is the source of the ivy contamination. The ivy is growing up large Phebalium trees and seeding. The birds are then eating the seed and spreading the ivy to the rest of the gully.
*I cut and painted with Glyphosate the upper and lower stumps of the ivy but, because of the size of the plants, I am not at all sure this will work. I get the feeling that the ivy is getting a good bit of its nutrient for the host trees.
*I have done about 6 metres and will not do more until I know the treatment is successful.
If anyone would like to see it then drive down Sexton Road. It is directly at the end just to the right of the Totara.

Pheasant shooting,Gardening and Restoration

Here is a link to Wayne Bennett’s little story on his blog attached to his forestflora website. An entertaining read and a good point made at the end. http://forestflora.co.nz/blog/?p=168

Scored 160 natives to plant out!

Hamilton City Council rang this morning to say they had “left over” plants in their nursery and seeing we had damp areas in the areas of the gully we have cleared of honeysuckle would we like a selection of understory plants to plant out. I was going to be over that side of town this morning with my trailer so I arrange to call into the nursery and pick them up. The result is we have approximately (a bit hard to count on the trailer) 160 eco-sourced native plants to plant at tomorrow’s (Wednesday) working bee. Isn’t that great?
This is not just about Council “getting rid” of end of season stock it is acknowledgement by council of the good work our group has done and a means of supporting our effects.
There will be four of us at the working bee tomorrow but with this number of plants to plant out a few extra hands would be good. I know most of you have a job to go to but those that don’t and have a free morning it would be good to see you.
We meet at the St James side of the walk bridge at 8.45am (or when you can make it). Bring a spade (smaller the better) and a garden trowel. Some plants are quite small, and a drink & morning tea for yourself.

Plant varieties and numbers:

Melicytus micranthus x 42
Coprosma grandifolia Rauekau x 25
Coprosma tenuicalis Swamp Coprosma x 2
Coprosma propinqua Mingimingi x 30
Geniostoma rupestre Hangehange x 23
Kunzea ericoides Kanuka x 7
Coprosma rhamnoides Red fruited Karamu x 15
Beilschmiedia tawa Tawa x 5
Alectryon execelsus Titoki x 10
Aristotelia serrata Wine Berry Makomako x 1

Donate a tree

We now have a cheque book account opened. For those that cannot participate because of their busy life style but wish to support our cause there is an opportunity to donate a tree/s to plant into the swamp areas. Wayne Bennett of Forest Flora Nursery has some large eco sourced specimens of Kahikita, Pukatea and Swamp Maire that can be safely planted at this time of the year.
If you wish to donate:
Using internet banking transfer $15 per tree for a Swamp Maire to account 12-3171-0184290-00 add a code SM or $10 per tree for a Kahikatea or a Puketea add a code KAPU. (or $25 SMKAPU for one of each)
If you only use the old system write out a cheque to “Mangaiti Gully Restoration Group” and post it C/- R. Bushell, 7 Carisbrook Place, Rototuna North, Hamilton 3210.

Saturdays working bee

Time: 8.45am to 12noon
Place: The foot bridge
Bring: Morning tea, Gum boots (it’s dried out a lot but still has wet patches), Pruners. Sun screen and hats are optional as we will be working in the shade.

Wednesday Working Bee

We worked off site for the first time this Wednesday cutting bamboo for staking tree. We gathered, trimmed and cut to length over 200 plus a lot of “shorts” not shown in the photo.