Restore Hibiscus & Bays – March 2020
Kia ora and welcome to our March newsletter.
Every month we send news, information and events from our network of community groups working to eradicate pests, restore native habitats and improve water quality across the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board area. Please complete your full details via the link below, so we can ensure you receive information tailored to you. We also ask that you share this email with your friends and contacts and encourage them to sign up here for future newsletters.
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We had a wonderful network gathering on 13 February, with around 40 people from community groups, the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, Council and the general public. Everyone shared about about the awesome things they're doing to restore native biodiversity and gave feedback on our plans at Restore Hibiscus & Bays to support new and established groups over the coming year. We were so engaged in the conversation that we forgot to take a photo of the very full room, so here's a beautiful pic of a tūī feeding its chicks - copyright Ngā Manu Nature Images. Our next network meeting will be on Thursday 2 April at Rotary House in Silverdale, 6-8pm. Please RSVP here for catering purposes.
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The Department of Conservation are running a free one-day Introduction to predator trapping course on Saturday 28 March, 10am-12:30pm at Orewa Library. This is for anyone who is new to trapping and is interested in volunteering within Hibiscus & Bays. You will be introduced to the basics of trapping - which tools to use, where to place them and how to monitor. The class size will be limited to 20 so please RSVP to info@restorehb.org.nz to reserve a place. If you are part of a community group, please share with your contacts. More experienced trappers are recommended to attend the two day NMIT trapping course.
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We've developed a trifold brochure about Restore Hibiscus and Bays and how we work to support community groups across our network. The plan is to update this with our new logo and branding - currently being developed by an awesome local designer. In the meantime, you can download and print copies of the interim brochure here. Please feel free to pass onto anyone who might be interested!
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Our volunteers have begun a moth plant 'hit squad' in Torbay and Long Bay Regional Park. They would welcome help on weekdays or weekends from any volunteers keen to get stuck into tackling these nasty pest plants. Let us know if you can support with this important mahi in Torbay/Long Bay or at another location: info@restorehb.org.nz. In particular, it would be great to hear from people who can help with coordination of volunteer events.
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The Hibiscus & Bays Local Board are currently consulting on their three-year plan. Members of the public can provide feedback online here. It’s simple, quick and easy for people to tell their elected representatives their priorities, in order to impact local funding for the next three years. It’s a great way to advocate for predator and pest plant control, restoration of our native bush, rivers, streams and marine environments and more funding to support community-based action.
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Are you planning any working bees or environmentally-focused events between 21 March-19 April inclusive? If you would like your event to be promoted as part of EcoFest North 2020, please let Alyse at Kaipātiki Project know: events@kaipatiki.org.nz. See below details of other Restore Hibiscus & Bays events during the EcoFest North month-long festival.
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Do you have any cool photos of wildlife, landscapes or people helping nature within our rohe? Would you be happy for us to include them on our website, newsletters, Facebook, leaflets and other communications? Do you have any stories that you would like to share? Please send them to info@restorehb.org.nz.
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We plan to establish two community tool libraries, from which groups and individuals can borrow tools, herbicides, predator bait and bait stations, traps, composting weed bags, ginger barrels and other equipment. We will be lending them out on the understanding that they will be used on public or private land within the local board area on projects aimed at controlling pests and restoring our native biodiversity. We already have a potential location in mind for the East Coast Bays tool library and are now on the hunt for somewhere on the Hibiscus Coast. Please get in touch if you have any ideas. We also need an office for our staff team - ideally in the Browns Bay/Torbay area. Again, please let us know if you can help in any way!
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Pest Plant of the Month: BLUE MORNING GLORY
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The purple tubular flowers of this tall-growing creeper may look pretty right now, but its extremely fast growing and can smother native vegetation as ground cover, as well as climbing up native trees.
Take action as soon as possible:
- Hand pull small infestations.
- For larger stems, cut near to the ground and immediately paste a thin smear of Bamboo Buster on the cut stem - can be purchased at most garden centres or hardware stores.
- As the weed spreads vegetatively from stem fragments, hang up cut vine well off the ground and leave up high to dry out.
- Put all other cut waste inside a securely tied plastic bag and dispose in the rubbish bin to go to landfill.
- Talk to your neighbours and encourage them to take action too!
For more information, please see the Council website or email any questions to info@restorehb.org.nz.
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Other events coming up soon...
Okura Forest Festival presents Wilderness Connection Day
Saturday 21 March, 10am-1pm
Meet at 1 Duck Creek Road
Guided ecology walks, forest restoration, kai & live music! Come along and learn about how we can protect our last remaining wild places. This is a day to gain a deeper understanding of our natural world and the steps we can take to heal it. More info to come, including announcements of speakers, guides and musicians. Check out the Facebook event page here.
Hibiscus Coast Forest & Bird AGM
Tuesday 24 March, 7.30-9.30pm
Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa
The Annual General Meeting for Hibiscus Coast Forest & Bird branch will precede an exciting and informative talk from NZ Batman (AKA Ben Paris). ALL WELCOME! Come and hear updates on Forest & Bird projects and activities, including Pest Free Hibiscus Coast plans for 2020! Please register at hibiscuscoast.branch@forestandbird.org.nz
Bushglen Community Bush BBQ
Sunday 29 March, 9.30am–12pm
Bushglen Reserve, next to #36 Helvetia Dr, Browns Bay
Join your neighbours for a free educational event at 9.30am to learn about the ecology of our rare and endangered bush, the threats from invasive pest plants and what you can do in your own backyard to help. Also hear about plans for footpaths to be built through Bushglen late this year. Food and refreshments provided at 11am. Optional koha donation. Kids and everyone welcome. RSVP on Facebook here.
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Are you part of a community group working to protect and restore our local environment? We would like to promote your events and working bees on our website and in our future newsletters! Please send us an email to events@restorehb.org.nz, including event name, date, time, location, RSVP details and any links for further information.
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Restore Hibiscus & Bays is an umbrella community-led organisation that aims to bring together, support and grow the network of restoration groups, neighbourhoods, individuals, schools, businesses and other organisations working to eradicate pests, restore native habitats and improve water quality across the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board area.
Our mahi is supported by funding grants from the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board and Auckland Council, and we are part of the East Coast Bays Community Project which has charitable status.
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Arohanui to our sponsors:
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