Embedded Files
News for September - December 2017
News for September - December 2017
Friday working bee 10am to noon 1 December - 251 Hinemoa Street
A great job done on the climbing asparagus
Sunday 3 December - cleanup at Little Shoal Bayup
Thanks to all who came. A great cleanup. Thanks to the Birkenhead Residents Assocation for organizing this.
Sunday working bee 10am to noon Sunday 26 November - Beyond the Fence - Valley Rd/ Onewa Rd/ Wernham Pl
It was great to see the progress made in weed control by Leanne and other volunteers from this Beyond the Fence group. There was very little evidence of Blue Mornng Glory in this area - a major accomplishment. Plans were made for ongoing restoration work over the coming year. We also inspected the work Auckland Transport have done removing the wooden footbridge from Valley Road - just south of 1H Valley Road where the footpath now stops. They have clearfelled the native bush on the steep slope below the new barrier and it looks like they have hydroseeded it. We've written asking if they are going to replant this area with suitable eco-sourced natives.
Photo coming.
Friday working bee 10am to noon Friday 3 November - 251 Hinemoa Street - tackling climbing asparagus
Despite the forecast, there was only light rain between 10 and midday. Kelly, Keith, Ken, Les, Maureen and Paul filled 5 rubbish sacks with climbing asparagus and we didn't finish it all - it's a massive infestation. The big infestations had stems over 2 metres long with small white flowers. They were smothering natives around them. The perimeter of the area was surrounded by new plants. The aim will be to at least dead-head the climbing asparagus before the green/red/orange berries ripen and provide more seeds for the birds to spread. The team used either garden forks to dig out big root bundles or small folding saws or gib saws to dig out roots between seedlings or other tight spaces. It's important to dig out the whole crown and send it to landfill as it's tubers can easily revrowe.
We also pulled out lots of Japanese Spindle Tree and monkey apple, along with loquats, ginger, blue morning glory and elaeagnus.
There are some wonderful big trees in this area - especially a large totara with massive exposed roots. The area down by the stream is very attractive with lots of bird calls.
There's still work to do on the climbing asparagus this year and no doubt there will need to be many return visits over the years because climbing asparagus roots and nodules are hard to dig out and kill. Especially when they are growing in fissures around big tree roots. But as climbing asparagus can kill host plants by smothering or ring barking, it's worth the effort. The only downside of the morning was to find that some college students had been hanging out in this area of bush below Aetherius Lodge trampling young native seedlings and leaving rubbish. Otherwise it was a very rewarding morning's work.
Sunday 22 October 2017 - Sunday working bee
Many thanks to Geoff who did some planting behind the Senior Citizens and to Les, Linda, Paul and Keith who dug out masses of climbing aspargus - but there's still lots left for the 3 November working bee. The leak is still running from 241 HInemoa Street and an orange iron oxide looking area appearing below the kokopu pool.
Tuesday 17 October 9am - track maintenance
A great job done by Laurie, David, Nigel and Keith putting in two more drains under the track that runs west from Dudding Park towards Valley Road.
The land to the north side of the track is very boggy with water running down from the hillside above. This walkway has got wet and boggy for many years until Laurie came along and gave it a touch of what he calls just common sense. It's great to have his expertise and time going into our walkways in Le Roys. Thanks also to David and Nigel who have been spending many hours tidying up the track.
See the photos of Mr Leonburger the track inspector on https://www.facebook.com/groups/FriendsOfLeRoysBush/.
Thanks also to Forest and Bird North Shore for supplying the pipes for free.
We still don't have a date for the new track upgrades - but are waiting on the Council project manager for news. This will we understand result in some track closures this summer while work is in progress.
Monday 16 October - Pest Free Kaipatiki Community workshop - 6pm, Rawene Centre
A great evening with a fascinating talk from the Muriwai predator group and from Jo and Chris about bats in Birkdale.
For more information go to the Pest Free Kaipatiki website pestfreekaipatiki.org.nz or Facebook page.
Sunday 15 October - Wine and Weeds - Ravenhill, 2pm - all welcome
Congratulations to Bec, Linda, Mary, RIchard and Trish for a great event. Good to see some new faces in the forty visitors. Thanks Beyond the Fence.
Friday weeding bee Friday 6 October 251 Hinemoa St
Many thanks to Geoff, John Ken, Lynne H, Paul and Keith for a great job weeding in the upper Le Roys Bush area near Highbury.
The group working below Aetherius Lodge dug out bucket fulls of climbing asparagus along with dozens of acmena as well as some elaeagnus, ginger, blue morning glory and other miscellaneous weeds. It was good to see a range of native seedlings regenerating in the area - from pigeon wood to taraire. The group working below Rosella Apartments released the natives planted last winter and the winter before - the main weeds tackled were ox tongue, scotch thistles, convolvulus and others. This is a difficult area that was degraded some years ago when contractors felled privet trees on top of our plantings. It took some years for one volunteer to clear a way through the fallen trees to provide access. Then we had to start again. It's great to see the planted natives (manuka, totara, puriri etc) mostly doing well with more reaching a metre high. Hopefully within the next few seasons, these trees will start to shade out the thistles and ox tongue making it easier to control the convolvulus.
New signs in Le Roys Bush
Many thanks to Steve Cook of EcoScience Ltd for organizing the placement of the directional signs in Le Roys Bush. And thanks to the Kaipatiki Local Board and to Kaipatiki Communities Facilities Trust for funding and organizing the signs. Really sad that we've got a new pest species in the bush - a graffiti troll. If you see any other graffiti on signs in Le Roys or any other reserve please report it to Auckland Council Contact Centre at 09-301-0101 - give exact location!
Jill tells us that you can clean graffiti off the signs by wiping it with soft cloth and turps, or meths.
We have a sign we're saving up for the Fairfax Ave track once it's upgraded.
Friday working bee 10am to noon Friday 1 September
Thanks to Geoff, Les, Paul, Ted and Keith for a very productive morning weeding along between the stream and the new board walk from the Kokopu pool to the East end. Good to see a lot of regenerating natives. Lots of weeds pulled out - including loquat, montbretia, woolly nightshade, privet, climbing asparagus, etc. We focused on the big weeds - only clearing tradescantia or Sellaginella where there were limited amounts. Hopefully the new contractors will deal to the tradescantia in due course.
This was followed by some weeding below Rosella Grove where we pulled out dozens of scotch thistle and ox tongue.
Erosion and pollution in the Le Roys Bush Stream
Along with another Birkenhead bush restoration group, we appeared before the Kaipatiki Local Board asking for them to advocate with Council for improved management of erosion and pollution in Le Roys Bush. You can access the submissions from the Council webpages http://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2017/08/KAI_20170823_MAT_7418_WEB.htm or from the following links
Pollution, erosion and silting in Le Roys Bush (KS 2017-08-20 v0.1c) and Comments on Le Roys Bush and Chatswood Reserve 8 May, 2017 (LW v1.1)
News for April to August 2017
News for April to August 2017
"Closed for Good" weeding and planting bee 9am Wednesday 23 August
The BNZ team of 20 staff along with 6 helpers did a great job of controlling weeds and planting native trees around the south west arm of the wetland.
The main weeds tackled included: climbing asparagus, woolly nightshade, moth plant, loquat, privet, honeysuckle, blue morning glory, jasmine, ginger, pampas grass, arum lily, willow, acmena, queen of the night, etc etc Special thanks to Fiona, Linda, Maureen, Pam, and Steve.
Sunday working bee Sunday 26 August
The working bee took place from the back of 2 private properties in Le Roy Tce. We released some native seedlings from tradescantia and revegetated some bare areas. Many thanks to Hugo, Ben and Dave for their help with reporting moth plant and madeira, weeding tradescantia, ginger etc, planting and ongoing releasing of natives.
Friday working bee 10am Friday 4 August
Many thanks to Geoff, Les and Maureen who did a great job releasing natives around the entrance at 251 Hinemoa Street.
Stage 1 of the Pest Free Kaipātiki monitoring programme - Citizen Scientists wanted!
The Pest Free Kaipātiki team is ready to roll out Stage I of the PFK monitoring programme – the laying out and retrieval of about 400 "chew cards" in our Kaipātiki Reserves over the next month (late July – early August).
This is a key action to establish a baseline measurement for the predator population to better determine the next steps to making Kaipatiki pest-free by 2026! It expands on the monitoring schedule begun by our expert advisers from the RIMU (the Auckland Council Research Investigation and Monitoring Unit).
What’s involved?
1 x Training Session (Thursday 20 July 20 at 3pm) at Kaipātiki Project Environment Centre, 17 Lauderdale Rd, Birkdale. There we will explain where and how to install the cards and how locations are mapped and GPS located. You’ll get enough information to train other volunteers too. [Note: More times may be added for people who can’t make this session].
2 x Sessions in the bush ‘Walking the line’ – one walk nailing up pre-labelled chew cards to marked trees, followed by another walk retrieving all chew cards, 3 days later. (MUST be completed between July 20 and 9 August).
1 x Sending Returning your chew cards and recorded data to 17 Lauderdale Road, Birkdale (before Thursday 10 August 10, 2017).
As outlined, this is stage one of the Pest Free Kaipatiki programme. There are many more exciting things happening soon. The Le Roys Bush email list has been managed for many years by one or two people from a spreadsheet. We are aware that looking after Le Roys Bush also means control pests right across our local board area. Le Roys volunteers have been playing a key role in Pest Free Kaipatiki. In line with this, we are thinking of moving our email list to the "Engage" system that the Ubiquity company has provided to Pest Free Kaipatiki - this means that in future, your emails may include both Le Roys Bush and Pest Free Kaipatiki information. We'd like to hear back from you how you feel about this.
Beyond the Fence Building For Diversity Workshop Sunday 9 July 2.00pm
This was a great success. Well done again to the Beyond the Fence team.
Friday working bee at 251 Hinemoa Street, 10am Friday 7 July - POSTPONED
DUE TO THE HEAVY RAIN TODAY AND THE FORECAST FOR TOMORROW, THIS WORKING BEE IS CANCELLED - SITE WOULD BE TOO SLIPPERY!
The working bee will be in the area near 251 Hinemoa Street. If you arrive a bit late and can't see us, call Keith on 021-240-9414.
Please bring the usual gear - suitable boots/old shoes, gloves, long sleeved clothing, weeding tools, and to suit your needs: hat, water bottle, snacks.
The working bee will aim to control invasive weeds along the new walkway below the pool where the kokopu used to be.
If you have any questions, please email us - info@pestfreekaipatiki.org.nz or call Keith
(2) Can you also please help broaden our reach by forwarding this email by asking friends, family and neighbours?
Obviously, the more volunteers that get behind this, the more success we will have introducing new people to restoration, and helping in our reserves.
(1) Can you personally help with monitoring? Please let us know ASAP by completing this on-line form:
Birkenhead Neighbourhood Planning
The Birkenhead Residents Association is undertaking a survey seeking your views on Birkenhead (wider Birkenhead not just the Town Centre).
Please go to https://birkenhead.dialogue-app.com/ and make your views known.
You can vote on what people have already said about what they do like, don't like or think is missing.
And you can add your own ideas or comments. Please have your say.
Kaipatiki Local Board Plan 2017 - submissions close 4pm Friday 30 June
The KLB is seeking feedback on their current planning round.
It includes ongoing support for the Pest Free Kaipātiki programme. We are very grateful for the support the Kaipātiki Local Board has already been giving to Pest Free Kaipātiki.
If you haven't already made a submission of support, we encourage you to do this.
In particular, we are told that it's important that people make a submission to support those items in the KLB plan that they are in favour of - just to confirm that the community is behind these initiatives. It's expressions of support that reinforce the board's mandate to follow through with good initiatives - such as Pest Free Kaipatiki.
If you only have five minutes, then we suggest that, if you'd like to support Pest Free Kaipatiki, you could
Go to the KLB Plan feedback form: http://engage.ubiquity.co.nz/surveys/QFAOn8f_wki8oQjUk8cmkQ
Fill in your details, select Kaipatiki as your local area
If you'd like to support Pest Free Kaipatiki, we suggest you add " Pest Free Kaipatiki" to Question 2 (what you like about the local plan) [or add any other thinks that appeal to you]
If you are worried about the erosion and sewage overflows in Le Roys, we suggestion that in answer to Question 3 (what is missing from the plan), you answer:
"Encourage Auckland Council to provide more funding to protect our bush reserves from sewage overflows and erosion"
Sunday planting bee at Le Roy Terrace entrance, 10am Sunday 25 June
It's good to see natural regeneration happening alongside the track coming down from Hinemoa Street - this is one of the reasons why it's important for people and pets to keep on the track.
The natives will need some releasing from time to time - if you are passing by and can tell native grasses from weeds, please stop and stomp on the weeds to allow the native grasses and the native trees to keep their heads in the light.
Some of the grasses are very small - so hopefully people and dogs won't step on them. Maybe they need stakes around them.
Thanks to Andrew, Ben, Christophe, Geoff, Helen, John, Ken,Laurie, Linda and Keith for coming along to this event.
The working bee dug out the weeds and planted the native grasses along the left side of the walkway from Le Roy Tce. It looks heaps better.
Advance notice- the next BNZ Closed for Good day is being held on 23 August 2017
Advance warning - the next BNZ Closed for Good day is being held on 23 August 2017. If you might be available to help us coordinate the volunteers on that day, please let us know ASAP. Do you have ideas about good projects we should be tackling.
NZ Garden Bird Survey 24 June - 2 July 2017
Congratulations to Beyond the Fence for the Bird Talk last Sunday 18 June. Great to see so many people there.
Some people attended who expressed an interest in helping more with pest control and bush protection but we didn't get your contact details. Please get in touch with your contact details.
For more details of Tim Lovegrove's great talk see: the Friends of Le Roys Facebook page.
The talk was held to publicize the NZ Garden Bird Survey which runs from 24 June - 2 July 2017.
If you'd like to take part click on the link: NZ Garden Bird Survey.
It'd be great to have local people helping out with citizen science around our bush reserves
Please note - if you see any vandalism in the reserve, please take a photo and send it to along with precise details to the Auckland Council contact centre with a copy to LeRoysBush@gmail.com
For further info about how you can help by reporting problems, see Report pests, problems & pollution and Some events reported.
Successful Friday working bee at 251 Hinemoa Street, 10am Friday 2 June
Thanks to Ken, Les, Ted and Keith for a good working bee in the area between 251 Hinemoa Street and behind the weedy Westpac building.
This shows the first sign - the others will be installed progressively over coming weeks.
Erosion, siltation and pollution in Le Roys Bush - 17 June 2017
You may have noticed the silty mud over the board walk in Le Roys. If you think that's bad, look at what has happened to the pools in the stream - they are being filled with silt - displacing a large proportion of the remaining banded kokopu.
We are fortunate in having a report written by a local geotech engineer on issues with erosion and siltation in Le Roys Bush. As noted on Facebook there have also been problems with sewer leaks running for weeks on private land without being fixed. We have written to the Kaipatiki Local Board to discuss these issues. If you have professional expertise or would like to help us document these issues, please get in touch.
New signs going into Kaipatiki reserves - first sign in Le Roys - 17 June 2017
Many thanks to the Kaipatiki Local Board for funding new signage in our reserves and thanks to Kaipatiki Community Facilities Trust and Steve Cook of EcoScience Ltd for making it happen.
Some other reserves suffered vandalism of their signs initially - so they are now being mounted on a backing board.
Work continued on the wretched blue morning glory below Aetherius Lodge and Rosella Apartments as well as on climbing asparagus, ginger, privet, plectranthus, selaginella, tradescantia, etc.
By the time we left, the area today it was looking much more promising. The planted natives are looking good and will need regular releasing.
The Pest Free concept - making progress - would you like to become more involved?
Friends of Le Roys Bush have been supporting the Pest Free Kaipatiki project since its inception. It's a natural strategy since pest plants and predators can spread across the whole area.
But restoring and protecting our native bush and wildlife is still dependent on volunteers and supporters like yourselves.
We are always on the outlook for people who are happy to put their hand up to assist with various tasks or to join our committee.
Our latest thanks go to Les who has volunteered to do more to help with predator control in Le Roys.
Thanks also to the good neighbours who removed an acmena (monkey apple) tree from their property - this will help reduce the number of acmena seedlings popping up in the reserve.
On a wider front, we're now pleased to learn that Auckland Council is hosting a Pestival - please see details below. At this event they will introduce councils’ Pest Free Auckland programme which will build on many aspects of our own Pest Free Kaipatiki. We look forward to synergies arising from this.
The Pest Free Kaipatiki project is very grateful to the Kaipatiki Local Board who have awarded the Pest Free Kaipatiki a significant grant which will allow PFK to move forward on its 10 year programme involving more people and more areas to work with Auckland Council.
Little Shoal Bay activities - tidal surges and mangroves
You may have seen the mangroves being removed from Little Shoal Bay over recent weeks and also on the LRB Facebook page the video taken on 27 May of the tide washing around the LSB Bowling Club carpark.
The mangrove work was undertaken by the Kaipatiki Community Facilities Trust and the Little Shoal Bay Protection Society.
It is proposed that the Le Roys Bush committee gets together with the LSB Protection committee to discuss a community led approach to addressing the underlying issues and seeking optimal solutions for the environment and the community.
More about Pest Free Auckland and the "Pestival" on 24 June
For more info see the blog at https://www.pestfreekaipatiki.org.nz/blog
Pest Free Kaipatiki Programme Coordinator position
This position is a first step in moving the Pest Free Kaipatiki programme forward. The position has been shortlisted and the appointment should be announced in the week ending 14 July.
Indigenous terrestrial and wetland ecosystems of Auckland
RIMU (the Auckland Council Research and Evaluation Unit) has published "Indigenous terrestrial and wetland ecosystems of Auckland" - a guide that " ... describes the 36 terrestrial and wetland ecosystems, and their regional variants, that have been identified by Auckland Council as occurring in the Auckland region. The aim is to improve consistency in mapping and describing Auckland’s natural areas. ... The results will lead to clearer articulation of management aims for council, improved efficiency in consent processing, and more targeted restoration advice for community groups and landowners. "
This guide is dedicated to John Sawyer whose vision initiated the project and who made a substantial contribution to the publication prior to leaving New Zealand. Sadly, John passed away in 2015. John was passionate about biodiversity conservation and brought huge energy and determination to the projects he was involved with. He was generous with his time, knowledge and support for his many friends and colleagues. John presented at a meeting at Birkenhead Library about the new SEA overlay.
Great weeding bee on Friday 5 May 2017
Many thanks to Paul, Mark, Les, Ken, Kelly, Keith and Geoff for a great morning's work. :Les and Kelly did a great job clearing blue morning vines from trees below Aetherius Lodge, Mark and Ken cleared weeds from along the stream edge below the Rosella Apartments, Paul dealt to an outbreak of climbing asparagus below Aetherius Lodge, Geoff planted some donated totara and kowhai in the grass area below the apartment block and did some weed clearance around the edges.and Keith released plantings and pulled weeds between the new walkway and the stream. There are some great seedlings emerging in this area but struggling against the weeds including taraire and lancewood. This area is not a track - people should only enter it as part of a working bee and with clean boots and tools. Weeds removed included:Moth Plant, Queen of the Night, Blue Morning Glory, Palm Grass, Privet, Climbing Asparagus, Bamboo, Woolly Night Shade, Blue Morning Glory, Convolvulus, Honeysuckle and many others. At this stage, we are only removing some of the Sellaginella and Tradescantia.until we've got the more dominant weeds cleared. Thanks also to the rat bait station volunteers. Thanks very much to Les for all the weeding work he's done between formal working bees.
If anyone else would like to adopt a patch of bush and keep it weed free, please email leroysbush@gmail.com to arrange training and to get equipment if you need it.
ANZAC Day Moth plant volunteer working bee and a stream walk to review pollution and erosion
Great moth busting afternoon - preceded by a coffee at the Junction overlooking Le Roys and the harbour. Guess we got about 200 pods? Does that translate to preventing 150,000 seeds floating over Birkenhead and Auckland? Then followed by a well deserved beer with the same beautiful view from the Kaimataara. Thanks Angela, Ann, Dale, Duncan, Pam, Paul, Keith. Someone will post some photos on the Pest Free Kaipatiki Facebook page.
Earlier in the day, I enjoyed a very instructive walk down the Le Roys Bush stream from below Rosella Apartments to the waterfall looking at the ongoing erosion and pollution problems. Great to learn from two experts - Laurie about the soil science of the slips and erosion and Kit about the impact of erosion and pollution on banded kokopu and why we might lose all kokopu from the upper stream. Kit pointed out pools and streams which were once deep and healthy and had lots of kokopu. Now most of them are empty. What can we do? We hope to meet with an Auckland Council pollution expert next week. But how do we tackle the erosion - Auckland Council no longer applies resources to fix catchments like this. We hope to prepare a report for the Kaipatiki Local Board to address this.
The photo to the left shows a slip of clay beside the east end of the big bridge where the new track meets the old Onewa Road track. There doesn't appear to be any risk of structural failure - but what a shame that metres of clay have washed down the stream adding to the mass of sediment in this reserve of high ecological value.
Note added 4 May 2017: Laurie has done another walk documenting the multiple locations of erosion in the upper Le Roys Stream. It appears that the problems may only be solved by managing the flow of adjacent sites.
Photos below (KH): Left: Pool newly filled with silt looking upstream. Centre: Downstream view from pool. Right: erosion under the new bridge.
Sunday working bee at 251 Hinemoa Street 10am Sunday 23 April
We didn't have a big turnout, but got a lot of bad weeds pulled out - blue morning glory, acmena, privet, loquat and dozens of queen of the night seedlings. .
Most annoying of all was about 50 moth plant vines and seedlings. Retrieved two pods - but there's more pods to collect. Maybe we'll get back to these as part of the Pest Free Kaipatiki moth plant campaign on Anzac Day afternoon.
Suddenly a new stormwater outlet has appeared in the bush - not far from the Westpac stormwater outlet - creating a new overland flow. Hopefully the new building will have a detention tank so we won't get a lot more silt washed through the bush. (See left and middle photos)
It's good to see the pohuehue growing under the Kaimataara (see right hand photo).
Growsafe Certification - information received 10 April 2017
Would any Le Roys Bush volunteers be interested in getting Growsafe certification? There's a course on 31 May 2017.
Having this certificate will provide an opportunity to learn about the safe use of herbicides etc. Email us if you have any enquiries.
Friday working bee at 251 Hinemoa Street 10am Friday 7 April
The regular first Friday of the month working bee was held in the area below Rosella Apartments. The bush was full of noisy tui and other birds.
Many thanks to Les, Lloyd, Lynne, Maureen, Richard and Keith for clearing blue morning glory, convolvulus and other weeds from the natives we planted last year.
Moth plant control in Birkenhead Point, Chelsea, Glenfield and Beach Haven and other areas - helpers wanted - 10am Saturday 8 April
The Pest Free Kaipatiki Campaign to eradicate Moth Plant is going well but there is still a lot to do.
If anyone would like to help with Moth Plant control around Birkenhead Point, Northcote or Chelsea/Chatswood, please follow Pest Free Kaipatiki's Facebook page and help out when people spot an infestation.
Pest Free Kaipatiki will also be holding Eradicate Moth Plant workshops in a number of locations from 10am to noon next Saturday 8 April.
See Pest Free Kaipatiki's Facebook page and let us know if you can be part of the team.
Sewage leak from Birkenhead Ave shops
The sewage leak from the shops next to the Kaimataara has now been repaired. (See details in our Facebook page or on our "Events Reported" page)
Hopefully this rain will flush out most of the remaining sewage from the stream - but it is very disappointing that when the Auckland Council CCO Watercare attended the site, they simply decided the sewer pipe was on private land and left it to that. We believe they should have alerted the public to the health risk and ensured that the sewage was diverted back into the sewer lines till the problems were fixed.
It took a while for the contractor responsibly to actually fix the leak - in the interim sewage was flowing down Le Roys Bush into Little Shoal Bay.
Thanks to Anne-Elise Smithson for preparing a submission to Auckland Council on behalf of the Kaipatiki Local Board.
Weeding bee at Le Roy Tce and Hinemoa Street entrances to Le Roys Bush 10am Monday 3 April
We had a very successful informal working bee with Beyond the Fence in the track next to 133 Hinemoa Street to clear the palm grass that is starting to go to seed as well as the moth plant growing in the hedge next to 10 Le Roy Tce. All welcome. Bring gloves, kneeling pad, secateurs/folding saw. Water bottle and sunhat (depending on weather). We'll also take the opportunity to discuss how best to manage the large bushes intruding onto the track.
The natives planted last year are doing well and if time permits we'll deal to the weeds around them to make sure that they get a good start. Rather than pull the weeds out, we may use the "stomping technique" recommended by a parks adviser. This means that the foliage from the annual weeds remains around the natives - protecting the soil and preventing new weeds from growing.
Little things you can do if you go for a walk in Le Roys Bush
Even if you can't get to working bees, here's a few things you can do when you're walking in the reserve:
if leaves are blocking drains on the track, please lift them out and put them somewhere safe on nearby soil where they won't crush plants or wash back in the drain
if you'd like to adopt a small patch of bush to look after, email us and we'll get you started
if you see weeds with seed heads forming, please email the exact location to leroysbush@gmail.com with a description of the plants seen (add photos if possible)
if you see anyone dumping rubbish in the reserve or if you see wasps, broken boards or dangerous mesh on the board walk, please contact the Auckland Council Contact Centre with exact details and locations (add photos if possible). We had a case recently reported of a landscape contractor dumping garden waste including moth plant pods over his back fence near Highbury.
For other things you could help click here: How can I help? To find contact phone numbers and email addresses, click here: Report pests, problems & pollution
Beyond the Fence activities around Le Roys Bush and Birkenhead Point
The Seaview Ave and the Wernham Valley Road Beyond the Fence groups both had working bees last Sunday 2 April and as noted above the Le Roy Tce/Hinemoa Street group has a working bee on 3 April.
A new Beyond the Fence group is forming in Willow Bay after a successful function in March.
The Beyond the Fence team has just released its 2017 Calendar with some great events on it including a Birds of Birkenhead on 25 June and and Wine and Weeds on 15 October. Not to mention their Rat Blitz pulsing dates. Join Beyond the Fence on Facebook for more news.
Forest and Bird Weed Control Guide
If you haven't already got a copy, North Shore Forest and Bird have produced an excellent Weed Control Guide PDF - click on the link to download it, or get a printed copy from the library. The guide tells you how to eradicate weeds manually or with appropriate agrichemicals.
Saturday working bee at Le Roy Tce Sunday 1 April
A shout out to Hugo, Dave, Ben and Keith who helped clear large vines beyond their back fences growing up into the canopy of Le Roys Bush.
The technique for addressing these vines is to track the vine through the undergrowth and then
Pull the whole root out of the ground and coil the vine up and hang it in a tree
OR
Cut the vine just above ground level and dab the stump with a dab of gel (eg Cut'n'Paste Bamboo Buster or, if not near natives, Metgel)
Then coil the vine up and hang it in the tree to die.
This should be done before any seeds or pods form. If you are too late, then any moth plant pods should be retrieved and double wrapped and put out in your landfill rubbish
Many thanks to Dave who had spotted the moth plant and Hugo who'd spotted the madeira vine. By tackling these vines before they went to seed, we've avoided ongoing infestation in the neighbouring bush and avoiding the totara and tree ferns from being smothered to death.
News for Jan - March 2017
News for Jan - March 2017
News from Pest Free Kaipatiki at Eco Fest 26 March
Le Roys Bush members are involved in the Pest Free Kaipatiki Programme which had a stall at the Enviro Fun day held by the Kaipatiki Project on 26 March.
This photo shows Danielle Grant, chair of the Kaipatiki Local Board, along with Pam Templeton (CHERPA) and Keith Salmon (Le Roys)
They are holding a new stencil created by the Hadfields Restoration Group using funding from the KLB's funding provided to the Kaiapatiki Restoration Network.
This stencil (and another smaller one) will be used to paint warnings around stormwater drains about Kaipatiki - including around Le Roys Bush where recent events indicate a lack of awareness and concern about the impact of pollution on our freshwater streamlife.
If you'd like to help with applying these stencils to a stormwater drain near you, please get in touch.
Coming working bees and other events - all welcome
For more details go to this web page
Help eradicate Moth Plant in Kaipatiki
We are looking for Le Roys Bush volunteers to help:
(1) Put up Moth Plant brochures at bush entrances
(2) Become Moth Buster volunteers and coordinators.
Please help support the Pest Free Kaipatiki Moth Plant campaign
Raupo growth by Glade Place-Valley Road Bridge - 4 March 2017 compared with December 2016
Photos from the Northcote College Fish Monitoring Team show increasing spread of raupo above the bridge
It's great to get photos of changes in the reserve.
Please feel free to forward photos and we'll add them to the website. Or simply add them to the LRB Facebook page.
Working bee report - 3 March 2017
3 March: Beautiful day for a working bee.Our thanks to Paul, Maureen, Les, and a big welcome to newcomers Mark and Kelly. It'll be good to see the blue morning glory in the trees behind the Senior Citizens controlled and the new plantings from last year released.
Working bees for 2017: our Bush Rescue working parties are scheduled each month for the 4th Sunday of January and the 1st Friday of February
You are cordially invited to join us on our next bush rescue working bees: Keith is back in action after a knee replacement.
We are looking for other volunteers who'd be happy to lead these events. Watch this space to the details of each event.
Sunday 26 March 10am to noon - Email leroysbush@gmail.com or ring Keith for postponement details if rain is too heavy. Otherwise meet at 251 Hinemoa St.
Friday 7 April 10am to noon - Location TBZ
For most working bees, we recommend you bring: gloves, long sleeved shirt and pants, secateurs or small folding saw. Also: water bottle, sunscreen, sunhat,etc.
The Big Moth Plant push for February-March 2017 - help protect our Monarch Butterflies and our bush
As you probably know "Moth Plant" also known as "Cruel Plant" and the "Monarch Killer" is a ruddy nuisance wherever it occurs
If you see these flowers, pull the plant out by the roots
Take care as the sap is sticky and irritating.
Preferably wear gloves and old clothes.
If pods have already started forming, they must be pulled down and put in the landfill rubbish. If you can't do this yourself, send an email to KaipatikiRestorationNetwork@gmail.com reporting the exact location of the plant. Preferably with a photo.
Or report it on the STAMP Facebook page
Working bees for 2017: our Bush Rescue working parties are scheduled each month for the 4th Sunday of January and the 1st Friday of February
You are cordially invited to join us on our next bush rescue working bees: Keith will be out of action with a knee replacement on the following days.
We are looking for other volunteers who'd be happy to lead these events. Watch this space to the details of each event.
Sunday 26 March 10am to noon - Email leroysbush@gmail.com for information about meeting place
Friday 7 April 10am to noon
Many thanks to all for your help in 2016.
For most working bees, we recommend you bring: gloves, long sleeved shirt and pants, secateurs or small folding saw. Also: water bottle, sunscreen, sunhat,etc.
Working bee reports - 3 to 28 February 2017
26 Feb: There was a good turnout to tackle weed control in the gully to the west of 1 Valley Road. This was a Beyond the Fence meet on private land to try to stop pest plants from entering Le Roys Bush. Bring gloves and secateurs.
3 Feb: Many thanks to Helen, Keith, Les, Lloyd, Paul and Stuart for a good morning's work. We cleared mothplant, woolly nightshade, blue morning glory, privet, wattle, pampas etc from around the lower wetland - across the sewerline and up to the bottom of the Hinemoa Street properties. There's still a lot of blue morning glory to tackle as well as nut grass. But it was rewarding to track a number of small woolly nightshade and wattles back up to their parent trees hidden in the bush and to hopefully stop another cycle of seeding.
Pollution event - dead eels by Little Shoal Bay Bowling Club and near Enterprise St
It traps butterflies in its sticky flowers, it smothers gardens, fences and native bush
And it breeds and spreads at a drastic rate
The best time to get rid of it is in January/February - before seed pods form
If we leave it too later, then it forms seed pods - each of which can spread over 700 seeds 25 kilometres across your friends' gardens and our gulf islands.
Pest Free Kaipatiki presentation at Forest and Bird Monday 6 February 2017
The Pest Free Kaipatiki team are presenting an update on progress on this project to the North Shore Forest and Bird public meeting on Monday Feb 6th at 7.30pm (Waitangi Day).
Venue: Takapuna Senior Citizens’ Hall, The Strand – through the courtyard at the rear of the Takapuna Library.
Please encourage your friends and others interested in preserving our native biodiversity to come along.
A bold stretch goal or a mad idea? Members of the Pest Free Kaipātiki steering group will present the Pest Free Kaipātiki Strategy – how we intend to make Kaipātiki Pest Free over the next 10 years!
This team presentation and discussion will inspire those who live in the Kaipātiki area or who are thinking of doing similar initiatives around Auckland.
ALL WELCOME
NORTH SHORE FOREST & BIRD PUBLIC MEETINGS
Take place on the first Monday of each month excluding January, including public holidays.
Time 7:30 p.m., starting with Native of the Month, Weed of the Month and Moth of the Month (also known as “The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful”) and environmental updates, followed by our guest speaker.
Admission A koha/donation is appreciated to cover costs. Please give generously. Non-members are welcome. Do join us for supper afterwards.
For more information please contact Christine Ovens sunteam01@gmail.com, 479 7627
We'd welcome more volunteers
Can you spare a couple of hours a month to help look after our native bush and birds? Would you like to help out in your own street? or meet new friends at working bees?
Here's some small tasks that you may be able to fit into your busy schedule:
Email us at LeRoysBush@gmail.com if you'd like to help with any of these tasks or if you'd like to do more!
Or if you'd like to help the Pest Free Kaipatiki project in other parts of our suburbs, email KaipatikiRestorationNetwork@gmail.com
New track signage and track counters
You may soon notice new directional signage at track junctions within Le Roys Bush and other Kaipatiki Reserves.
Our thanks go to the Kaipatiki Local Board, the Kaipatiki Community Facilities Trust and the Kaipatiki Restoration Network for arranging this signage. It's designed to make the reserves easier for newcomers and visitors People have been asking for better signage for years and at last we have some.
The Parks Department is also installing track counters to help them monitor how well used bush tracks are.
If you see anyone vandalising the signs, counters or anything else in our bush reserves, please report it to the Auckland Council Contact Centre (09-301-0101) or by email. Provide exact details of the location with photos if possible.
Kauri Dieback Control
Many thanks to Michael who has been topping up our Kauri Dieback cleaning stations now for 3 years. He has been doing a grand job. In the Le Roys Bush report to the Kaipatiki Restoration Network meeting on 28 January, we acknowledge his report that he has added 128 litres of trigene at 5 stations in 2016 and a total of 337 litres has been added since he began in 2014 with a total of 27 bottles lost in that time.
Le Roys is still free of dieback so far - let's keep it that way.
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