2012 Newsletters

Le Roys Bush Newsletter - November 2012

Hi all

Here's some summer news about Le Roys Bush.

(1) Please join us for a planting bee from 10am to noon - Sunday 25 November 2012

• • All welcome - we look forward to seeing you

  • A spade and gumboots are essential - we'll be planting in the wetland

  • Bring gloves and suitable clothing for wetland - click here for more details

  • Meet in Glade Place and help carry a tray of plants down to the wetland

• If you don't have gumboots but would be happy to help carrying trays of plants down - please come along at 9.45.

(2) Kaipatiki Connections Walking and Cycling Network

• • The Local Board has adopted a plan for implementation over 3 years - we congratulate them on their decision

  • A new walkway from the waterfall track up to Highbury is scheduled for implementation in 2013 - it will emerge onto Hinemoa Street via a right-of-way past the Senior Citizens Hall.

  • Upgrades to the Fairfax Ave track are scheduled for 2015 to align with the connection down to Kauri Glen.

(3) Kauri Dieback Cleaning Stations in Le Roys Bush

• • Visitors to Le Roys Bush are going through about 2 litres of Trigene each month at the cleaning stations at the 3 entrance points

  • Many people are using the cleaning stations but not everyone. Please encourage people to protect the kauri in Le Roys

  • by using cleaning their footwear and ensuring that people and pets keep to the tracks

(4) Rat and possum control in Le Roys Bush

• Council officers have complimented us on our trailblazing rat control programme. They are looking at extending it to other parts of Kaipatiki.

• It is now time to start placing baits in your station. Please email LeRoysBush@gmail.com to let us know if you need more bait.

  • Some volunteers have left the area - so we are on the lookout for more helpers - please email us at LeRoysBush@gmail.com if you can help

(5) Kokopu protection in Le Roys Bush

• • The loss of 400+ banded kokopu from the Le Roys Bush stream above the waterfall remains unexplained.

  • However it appears that some whitebait have started to climb the stream up towards Highbury. Watch this space.

  • We plan to meet with Council's Stormwater Team to look at ways to improve the catchment.

  • We also hope to meet with WaterCare to develop a better system for reporting sewage discharges.

(6) Looking for volunteers?

• Do you know of anyone who is looking to put something back into their community and the environment by supporting Le Roys Bush?

• We would be delighted to hear from anyone who could help with:

  • Rat control (the job is to check and top-up the bait in a about 5 bait stations every four weeks over summer/autumn)

  • Kauri die-back control (the job is to check every two weeks that there is enough cleaning solution in one cleaning station)

  • Restoration planning and monitoring (this involves meeting with Council officers, preparing plans, coordinating activities)

  • Working bee coordination (eg welcoming volunteers, giving them guidance on planting and weeding)

  • Management Committee membership (one meeting a month from February to November; planning activities and fund-raising)

  • LRB charitable trust membership (trustees are also members of the Management Committee)

• Please contact Keith Salmon on kwsalmon@gmail.com or phone 480-9233 (evenings)

(7) Volunteer work in Le Roys Bush

• • Thanks also to all those people who do volunteer work in their own backyards and in the reserve.

  • The Council keeps monthly records of all volunteer work undertaken - if you do any volunteer work outside of scheduled events, please let us know.

  • Council is developing a new policy on volunteering and we want to ensure they are aware of the important role of volunteers in the community

We hope to see you at the planting bee on 25 November

.

In the new year, we will have some ad hoc working bees releasing the plantings in the wetland. Keep an eye on the What's Coming Up page

Please get in touch with us about any questions, ideas, offers of help or concerns

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a great summer break from your committee

Le Roys Bush Newsflash - 22 Sept 2012

Hi all

Here's some spring news about Le Roys Bush

(1) Tomorrow (Sunday 23 September) is our monthly working bee at the bottom of Glade Place

• • All welcome - we look forward to seeing you - bickies and juice provided

  • Please bring spade, gumboots, water bottle and suitable clothing for wetland - click here for more details

  • Sorry if this reminder comes too late for you - mark the 28 Octoberabnd 25 November in your diary now!

(2) Kaipatiki Connections Walking and Cycling Network

• • The initial report and recommendations go to the Kaipatiki Local Board on Wednesday 26 September

  • We are pleased to see improved linkages between Le Roys Bush and other reserves have a priority recommendation

(3) Kauri Dieback Cleaning Stations in Le Roys Bush

• • Many thanks to the volunteers who are helping to maintain the cleaning stations at the 3 entrance points

  • Please help us to protect the kauri in Le Roys - by using these stations and ensuring that people and pets keep to the tracks

(4) Rat and possum control in Le Roys Bush

• • The rat breeding season is coming up soon - volunteers will receive an email soon about renewing our rat control programme

  • Some volunteers have left the area - so we are on the lookout for more helpers - please email us at LeRoysBush@gmail.com if you can help

  • We have possum and stoat traps available to people whose homes border the reserve

(5) Kokopu protection in Le Roys Bush

• • Possible causes for the loss of 400+ banded kokopu from the Le Roys Bush stream above the waterfall have not been determined.

  • If you'd like to help research the causes, please get in touch.

  • It is too early to know if the whitebait season will see re-population of the pools above the waterfall.

(6) RMA Amendment and the Environment Court

• • After the very successful appeal by the old North Shore City and the Waitakere City Councils, it is worrying to hear that the Property Council is going back to the Environment Court to seek a determination

  • At this stage we are not sure what the Property Council is trying to achieve but we hope that Auckland Council will act to protect the democratically enacted bush protection zones around our local bush reserves

Remember - our working bees are on the 4th Sunday of each month - we hope to see you there soon.

Thanks also to all those people who do volunteer work in their own backyards - clearing pest plants that might otherwise escape into neighbouring properties and the reserve. A special thanks to the local resident who walks through the bush regularly picking up rubbish from the tracks.

Please get in touch with us about any questions, ideas, offers of help or concerns

Best wishes from your committee

Le Roys Bush Newsflash - 24 Aug 2012

We hope you may find time in your busy lives to join us for the planting bee this Sunday 26 August from 10am to noon.

The weather forecast looks promising.

Meet us by the bridge that connects Glade Place to Valley Road. Morning tea provided

What to bring:

• your favourite spade (please clean it - particularly if you have been in an area where Kauri Dieback may occur)

• boots (preferably gumboots – most of the work will be in the wetland, tall gumboots are warmly recommended)

• suitable hat & clothing for conditions – we recommend long sleeves and trouser legs to prevent scratches from "cutty grass"

• water bottle/snacks/sunscreen/insect repellent to suit your needs

• thorn & waterproof gloves (we recommend when working in the wetland the sort that have plastic or rubber all over - they come in blue, red, green etc and cost from about $5 to $7 at The Warehouse or Mitre10)

The work will cover filling in the gaps among the 1500 natives we planted in the wetland in May.

Look forward to seeing you.

Best wishes from your committee - Carol, Adrian, Helen, Geoff, Keith, Linda, Susan

NOTE: please check the our event page https://sites.google.com/site/leroysbushauckland/what-s-coming-up for any late changes to plans or postponements prior to setting out for any events (or on the day ring/txt Keith 021-240-9414)

PS if you can't make this event but would like to help with the following tasks, please email LeRoysBush@gmail.com or phone Keith on 021-240-9414:

• We have 50 native rushes (oioi) to plant down by Rods Island

• We have 15 native trees left to plant up in Highbury below the Westpac Bank

PSS we hope you have seen our Kauri Dieback footwear cleaning stations in three locations around the reserve - see:

https://sites.google.com/site/leroysbushauckland/helping-leroysbush/kauri-dieback-prevention-in-le-roys

Many thanks to the volunteers who are keeping the disinfectant bottles refilled!

Le Roys Bush Newsletter - 9 April 2011

See our webpages at www.leroysbush.org.nz

Join us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/203108196403911/

Stream and Glow worm walk

In conjunction with the Summer Walks Programme, the Stream Walk will take place on 17 April. Registrations for this walk are essential - go to our web page Calendar - what's coming up?

Fish in LeRoys - what has happened?

As many of you will be aware, Dr Hustler who has been studying the native fish in Le Roys Bush has identified over 350 individual native kokopu (grown up whitebait) in the streams above the waterfall.

Over the last month surveys indicate that the kokopu above the waterfall have disappeared.

At this stage it is not known whether they have been washed downstream by flooding or wiped out by toxins in the stream. Whatever the cause, please help spread the message about how critical clean fresh water is to the native stream life. If you are aware of people polluting the waterways (including washing cars so that runoff goes down stormwater drains) and you don't feel you can have a gentle chat with them, the Pollution Hotline contact details can be found on our page Report pests & pollution

Restoration Working Bees

We have planting and pest control working bees on the 4th Sunday of each month from April to November - times from 10am to noon. Please note these dates in your calendar or diary. The first working bee will be on Sunday 22 April and the first planting bee will take place on Sunday 27 May.

Our major initiative for 2012 is to restore and protect the carex (native grass) ecology below the Glade Place/Valley Road bridge. Now that the willows and pampas are largely under control, this area is looking beautiful - but we are planning plantings and weed control to protect it for the future.

For details of what to bring see Calendar - what's coming up?

Rodent Control

The pest control programme is going well - if you wish to help with this programme please get in touch.

Also if you are aware of stoats or possums in your area, please email LeRoysBush@gmail.com and give us the details. We have some stoat and possum traps available.

Kauri Dieback

You will have heard of the Kauri Dieback causing risks to some of NZ's eminent bush reserves. While we are not aware of it occurring in Le Roys Bush yet, there are two precautions we can take:

• Keep family and dogs on the track: In particular please dont allow dogs to run off track in the bush - their paws could pick up the pathogen if it is present and spread it to other trees

  • Help us provide cleaning stations at the entrance - we would welcome volunteers to look after 3 stations: at the entrance at Le Roy Terrace/Hinemoa Street and at Onewa Road and at the Valley Road/Glade Place track entrance. [Many thanks to the 2 people who have volunteered so far - we are still looking for someone to help with the Valley Rd track entrance cleaning station].

North Shore Forest and Bird is also looking for volunteers to help provide cleaning stations at the entrances to Kauri Glen. Let us know if you are interested please.

Miscellaneous Notes

• • A warm welcome to Paul Duffy - the new Volunteer and Biodiversity Coordinator at the Auckland Council Parks Department. Paul has great experience with wetland restoration from his work in the Waikato and has provided valuable advice for our winter wetland work.

  • Many thanks to Andrew Stanaway who watered the plants behind the Highbury Shop. Andrew has moved away now but will be holding an exhibition of his art in 12th of april at Four letters, next to Slipp Inn. 7 - 10pm.

If you have any feedback or other items you'd like to see covered in our newsletters, please email LeRoysBush@gmail.com

For previous years, see the pages 2011 Newsletters and 2010 Newsletters