Award Nominee

My parents Don and Denise Lyon moved to Tapu on the Thames Coast to semi retire two and years ago.

At the rear of this coastal property there was a large area of tecoma hedging crowding out the natural vegetation. They sought permission from their neighbours to remove this by cutting, stump painting and spraying in order to replant the area in native species. This exposed old man s beard, jasmine, tobacco weed, asparagus fern and so forth.

Don and Denise decided to form the Tapu Restoration Project in 2010 and sought funding from the Department of Conservation to clear an area of 40 acres and replant. They were granted $800 to help assist with this project which was supplemented by their own funds.

The neighbourhood is largely made up of absentee owners who are elderly and whilst are supportive of the project are unable to assist in a practical way.

To date Don, with assistance from Denise, has,

Sprayed 3000 sq metres of jasmine repeatedly which firstly needed to be cut at the base of the mature trees.

Cut and treated 500 sq metres of bamboo

Located and ring barked or slashed down approximately 2000 pine trees in 18ha of rugged gullies and hills.

Releasing weeds from new plantings, particularly convolvulus which is made worse by garden escapes from the holiday homes.

New weeds are now invading areas that have been cleared and the soil exposed so weed control is ongoing.

Don spends about 30 hours a week on the project with additional support from Denise. This includes growing from seed natives, potting up seedlings, planting, watering and checking trees and possum control.