Saturday 18th September1pm
To be held below the foot bridge.
Accessible beside 64 St James drive or 2 Grenache Pl off Coleraine Drive, Rototuna.
The objective of the open day is to see how much interest there is in the community in a local gully restoration project and to show case the gully’s potential. This will be measured by how many people register their email addresses onto the restoration group’s email news letter list.
Restoration in its very basic form is to clear areas of foreign weed and plant species and replant in native flora however we are hoping that there is enough interest to set up a number of groups with interest in biodiversity within the gully ecosystem.
This could involve recording and photographing existing native flora, monitoring bird species and numbers, surveying the existence of native fish in the stream and designing an eco system to support them, investigate the possibility of creating ecosystems to support the re- introduction of native lizards, insects and molluscas, surveying the possibility of a bat colony in the gully system, pest control of rats, possums, hedgehogs and mustelids. For the keen gardeners perhaps growing eco – sourced native seeds for future plantings.
It is possible that some of these group activities could become school projects.
We think it is important that people understand that they do not have to be an expert in any of these fields. Hamilton is very lucky to have a wide range of resources to draw on for support and guidance. Hamilton City Council is very well organised to support community plantings and work in closely with anyone that is committed. Waikato University has a number of researchers covering all the fields of biodiversity and has done a number of research papers on Hamilton gully systems under the guidance of Bruce Clarkson, Department of Biological Science. And then there is DOC, Landcare and Environment Waikato all of which have their specialities.
Photo supplied by Hamilton Press
Restoration in its very basic form is to clear areas of foreign weed and plant species and replant in native flora however we are hoping that there is enough interest to set up a number of groups with interest in biodiversity within the gully ecosystem.
This could involve recording and photographing existing native flora, monitoring bird species and numbers, surveying the existence of native fish in the stream and designing an eco system to support them, investigate the possibility of creating ecosystems to support the re- introduction of native lizards, insects and molluscas, surveying the possibility of a bat colony in the gully system, pest control of rats, possums, hedgehogs and mustelids. For the keen gardeners perhaps growing eco – sourced native seeds for future plantings.
It is possible that some of these group activities could become school projects.
We think it is important that people understand that they do not have to be an expert in any of these fields. Hamilton is very lucky to have a wide range of resources to draw on for support and guidance. Hamilton City Council is very well organised to support community plantings and work in closely with anyone that is committed. Waikato University has a number of researchers covering all the fields of biodiversity and has done a number of research papers on Hamilton gully systems under the guidance of Bruce Clarkson, Department of Biological Science. And then there is DOC, Landcare and Environment Waikato all of which have their specialities.
Photo supplied by Hamilton Press
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