Award Nominee

The Summit Road Society s weekend working party, the Weekenders , have made another significant contribution to weed control on the Port Hills in 2007. This group of about 5 8 people have been volunteering for 3 hours every month over the last 3 years on City Council reserves in the central Port Hills area.

Their contribution in 2007 has been a noticeable reduction of Cotoneaster species from Victoria Park with replacement planting of mainly divaricating Coprosma, Hebe and Corokia species. Khasia berry (Cotoneaster simonsii) has the ability to tangle up to subcanopy height twisting through existing branches, which the Weekenders have dutifully spotted, cut/treated and carefully dragged out of the bushes to create truck loads of slash to be mulched. A rather strenuous job with excellent results.

Many more hours have been spent controlling broom seedlings and cotoneaster seedlings (probably bird dispersed from Victoria Park) on Scotts Reserve at the head of the Bowenvale Valley. Careful hand control of broom saplings amongst revegetation plantings can be very tedious, however the Weekenders have continued to diligently work at getting it under control.

Controlling tree Erica (Erica arborea) has also been on their weedbusting duties as well as maintaining and mulching hundreds of trees planted for Arbour Day plantings by local school children over the last 5 years.

Thanks once again to the Summit Road Society Weekenders for your excellent weed-busting efforts on the Port Hills Reserves.

Nominated by: Di Carter, Port Hills Ranger, Christchurch City Council