Award Nominee

The work being undertaken by the Jubilee Bush Care Group involves the clearing of the major weed species in a tiny remnant (5.2ha) of what was once a much larger area of semi-swamp forest, called Jubilee Bush, or Claudelands Bush in Hamilton city. It is the only remaining forest of its type in the city.

It consists predominantly of kahikatea (nearly half the basal area), tawa, and pukatea, Other significant species are cabbage tree, and titoki. The subcanopy is dominated by mahoe, along with smaller pukatea, tawa and titoki. The understorey consists of silver fern, mapou, (Myrsine australis, raurekau (Coprosma grandifolia) pate (Schlefflera digitata). Ground layer dominated by grasses (mostly bush rice grass and Oplismenus imbecillis), sedges and ferns. Tangles of kiekie (Freycinetia baueriana) occur in places. Tradescantia is locally common, especially in gaps and near the margins. Kahakaha (Collospermum hastatum) is a common high epiphyte.

Large kahikatea, rimu and matai trees were logged out of the bush from 1864. Cattle were allowed in the bush from 1864 until 1927, causing damage to vegetation and compacting the soil. Since that time, various attempts have been made to rid the bush of Tradescantia, with variable but not lasting success. Since the boardwalk has been installed recently through the bush, the area is now used much more by locals, for recreation. Jubilee Bush is surrounded by roads, houses and Claudelands Park, in which it is planned to increase the bush area and develop a wetland area. The surrounding urban development has meant that the water table has been substantially lowered, with the result that kahikatea are no longer regenerating, and many original fern species have disappeared. At present the weedbusting work is purely weedbusting, but in time it may be appropriate to work with Hamilton City Council and University of Waikato botanists to determine species that may be reintroduced.

Katherine Hay co-ordinates the weedbusting in Jubilee Bush. She first became involved with Jubilee Bush in November 2004, through her work at the Environment Centre in Hamilton and connection with Hamilton City Council. During the Festival for the Environment a walk and talk was held in the bush. Following this an informal care group was formed that focused on removing litter and weeds (pest plants). With Weedbusters formation at a national level, the group became Jubilee Care WEEDBUSTERS as it was seen as a good way to highlight the area to a wider audience and target pest plants with the community under the WEEDBUSTERS umbrella.

When Katherine started in November 2004, there were numerous areas of forest floor totally covered with tradescantia. At this stage, Gerard Kelly from Parks and Gardens had compiled an initial database of interested people, some of whom have made up the core of the Weedbusters group. New members have joined, mainly through association with members. Some of the group members live close to the bush, others travel from other suburbs. The group was registered as a Weedbusters group in December 2004.

The most obvious problem for the bush has been the carpet of Tradescantia covering the forest floor preventing plant regeneration. While the group concentrates its efforts on clearing that, there are other incidental problems such as montbretia, invasion by wisteria from neighbouring gardens, ivy, numerous cherry seedlings, probably from seeds dropped by birds, rubbish dumped and blown in, plus lately graffiti on the boardwalks and even a tree fern damaged by fire.

The weedbuster group has cleared a large percentage of the bush, with only a couple of thick patches of tradescantia left. From filling numerous bags each from areas where the weed was 60 100cm deep, the group are now filling fewer, maintaining the areas already weeded, intensively hand weeding every last root. They were aided on a few occasions by work skills people clearing some of the more rampant areas, but found that hand weeding is then required as a follow up.

The group wants to get to a stage where they can maintain the weedfree status of the bush they are aware that due to external factors, (birds, neighbouring gardens) there are always going to be weeds invading this bush so that a regular check will need to be carried out, especially in areas close to fence lines, plus under the roosting trees of birds.

They have recently obtained a Formak kit and have trained people in the group, so will carry out an assessment of the bush, which can be repeated in two years to determine the changes in growth, especially in the understorey.

Using botanical surveys carried out in 1955, and again in 1996 98, species which have been lost could be reintroduced where appropriate. (Since 1954, 43% of ferns and 50% of dicotyledonous shrubs species have been lost)

There are not many barriers. Group members come when they are able. There are normally 5 8 and sometimes more when groups such as Girl Guides join us. The group has not done much canvassing the local area, probably due to time constraints on most of us. All members prefer to come along and get on with the weeding, and enjoy doing it in a group. They have found it is really important to do the job thoroughly, and it can be difficult to train visiting groups, especially children to do a small area carefully.

No major highlights yet but frequent delights - eg finding a group of kahikatea seedlings which have made it to waist height.

Smelling the sweet smell of Alstroeosmia in flower.

The group gets satisfaction in going over areas done many months ago and not finding much weed regrowth. They are easily pleased!

The most important partnership is with Hamilton City Council as they collect the filled bags. The partnership with the Environment Centre means that the weedings are advertised and a reminder goes out to group members the week of the weeding. The Centre is also a link for people to phone to organize to come on our weedings.

An occasional newsletter is also circulated, by email and hardcopy. The Centre will also organize an information evening to show some videos we have acquired, of the area in 1985.

Groups who have been introduced to weedbusting through Jubilee Care group and the involvement of the Environment Centre. School of Education students have also come and helped as part of a compulsory environmental education paper some groups have used Jubilee Bush as their topic of study.

Moira Cursey, Waikato Biodiversity Forum (nominator)