Kowhai Park Update
Coquette, Sally, Chinutsu and Mel, Kowhai Park volunteers
Welcome to The Kowhai Park Project December 14 and January 15 news up-date. Hope you all enjoyed the summer break. A mixed couple of months - mostly finishing off areas we started earlier in the year before heading up towards the ridge. We weeded out mostly montbretia along the stream bank by the Ranfurly Rimu early in December. The kiln slope had a pre-Christmas clean up. Flax, manuka, fern and grass plantings have established well, so it will be interesting to see what progress occurs during the year ahead. The quarry area received a good going over, and the compost sacks consolidated. The volume of weeds have reduced as much as half. During the next few months it is intended to empty the sacks and transfer the contents to a new depot area away from view.
The second weeding of Lovers’ Leap and the adjacent Mill stream slope was completed in January.
Roger Williams has kindly been working on plans to up-grade the Upper and Lower tracks to estimate what work needs to be done to bring the tracks to a satisfactory and safe standard for use by the general public. This is a long-term project as materials required and their cost must be calculated before any submissions can be made for financial assistance from Auckland Council or any other organisation(s). Our grateful thanks to Roger for his keen continued support for The Kowhai Park Project.
The Project is once again included in the Ecofest 2015 program. Last year we had only one weed-bee fixture listed - the assault on the submerged (under Wandering Jew) quarry area. The day was so successful that there will be three weed-be’s in this year’s Ecofest program. Many thanks to Trish Allen for her co-operation.
The Kowhai Park Project is also proud to be now part of ‘Weedbusters’ and is being listed on their web-site. Patte Williams is the local coordinator. Thank you, Patte.
The aim over the next few months is to continue weeding along the Upper Loop Track, going further off the track than weeded last year. We recently welcomed our new member of staff to one of our weeding sessions. Coquette has taken on the role of group protector against things that go bump in the bush, as well as our Wild Life Liaison Officer. She is seen here with Sally, Chinutsu and Mel.
Enjoy the remainder of the summer