Benefits of Urban Trees

From: http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/beat-the-heat-5-amazing-benefits-urban-trees.html

(Figures are presumably US$)

What would this site be without occasionally extolling the virtues of trees? The seemingly most salient virtue, at the height of summer, is the power of urban trees to cool, save energy, and heal. We've covered some of this before, andNRDC goes in far greater detail (worth a read for sure), but here's the thumbnail version of the amazing ability of trees:

• • The net cooling effect of single, young healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-sized air conditioners, running for 20 hours a day. 10 air conditioners, a single tree!!

  • A tree planted today on the west side of your house will result in a 3% energy savings in the five years time, 12% savings in fifteen years.

  • A single stand of trees reduces particulate pollution 9-13%, with the amount of dust reaching the ground beneath those trees 27-42%, versus in an open area.

  • If you have trees on your property near your home it accounts for 10-23% of your home value.

  • In urban areas, assuming the cost of planting and maintaining a tree for three years at $250-600, it will return $90,000 in direct benefits over its lifetime (apart from beautification, etc.).

What trees mean to communities: more than you may think

See http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kbenfield/what_trees_mean_to_communities.html

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Le Roys Bush Newsflash - June 2013

Hi All

Planting bee this Sunday - meet 10am at bottom of Maritime Tce - the bush needs your and your spade!

If you have been walking from Little Shoal Bay along past the wetland and up into the bush over recent months, we hope you will have enjoyed the major improvements along the tracks and across the wetland. Five years ago this area was rife with pampas grass, crack willow and other weeds that were taking over the native ecology.

But many areas were still plagued by annual weeds such as beggars ticks and thistles.

Please help us with the next stage of restoring the ecology of this area!

This Sunday we will be planting 1000 native grasses around the walkways - we need about 40 volunteers - young and old - to do this job.

No experience needed - we'll show you what to do if you haven't done planting before.

What to bring:

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

• workboots, robust old shoes or gumboots (this working bee is not in the wetland!)

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

• water bottle/snacks/gloves/sunscreen/insect repellent to suit your needs (morning tea provided)

Where and when:

• We'll start planting on the track that runs from the sports field up to Le Roys Bush - parking is available by the bowling club or Little Shoal Bay

• Planting will start at 10am - with a good turnout we'll be finished by noon - you're welcome even if you can only spare an hour

• The weather is due to clear by Sunday - but if the weather looks bad, look at our website for postponement details: https://sites.google.com/site/leroysbushauckland/what-s-coming-up

• If you haven’t been down here recently, you’ll see that the raupo in the wetland has gone brown – don’t worry – this is the normal winter dormancy; it will give our contractor a good chance to search for invasive weeds before it greens again in spring.

We look forward to seeing you.

The Le Roys Bush Management Committee

PS please keep your diary free also for the 4th Sunday of July

For photos of the last working bees or for other information see our webpages at: www.leroysbush.org.nz

This newsletter is sent to people who have expressed an interest in Le Roys Bush and Little Shoal Bay Reserves and related issues. If you have received this newsletter and no longer wish to, please email us at LeRoysBush@gmail.com with "Please UNSUBSCRIBE me" in the subject line. If you are not subscribed and would like to be, please email us with your name, a contact phone number and an indication of what your interests are. Details of the Le Roys Bush Management Committee can be found at LeRoysBush.org.nz

Supplement to the June 2013 newsletter - Cat Survey

Sent: Monday, 10 June 2013 9:40 a.m. Subject: Cat Survey

Hi all,

Please excuse the e-mail. A student at La Trobe university, assisted by Unitec, is interested in social perception of cats in both New Zealand and Victoria (Australia). You do not have to own cats, work with cats or care about cats to fill it in we are interested in everyone's opinions. The following link will take to you the survey which asks about stray, feral and owned cats. Please take the time to fill it out (it should take about 15 minutes) and send it on to your friends, colleagues and whanau, you can also post the link on any social sites you use.

The survey can be found at:

https://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_br5PZfHXPBVn91H

Or at the student's website: Cat Project

Thanks for taking the time to consider this,

Mark.

Mark Farnworth, BSc Hons., MSc

Senior Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare; UFAW Representative;

Department of Natural Sciences, Unitec Institute of Technology,

Tel: +64 9 815 4321 ext:7071

Le Roys Bush Newsletter - May 2013

Hi all

We have a great restoration planting programme going this winter.

We hope that you and your family and friends will be able to join us on one of these planting fests - 10am on the 4th Sunday of each month.

We look forward to seeing you - if you have no experience, don't worry - we are happy to show you what you need to know to get you started.

(1) Wetland restoration planting - please join us on Sunday 26 May from 10am - Glade Place Bridge

• • If you haven't walked through the wetland from Little Shoal Bay up to Le Roys Bush lately, you may be delighted to see the major improvements brought about by the planting and weed control in recent years. However the seed bank of annual weeds, blue morning glory, honeysuckle, pampas grass, nut grass and other weeds brought in by the wind and birds continue to intrude on the bio-diversity of the wetland. We are advised that this can best be controlled by planting more native plants to shade out the weeds.

  • On 26 May we will be putting in 850 plants been selected by the Auckland Council Parks Department biodiversity coordinator. The tussock and flax will help to infill the gaps in the wetland where pest plants like Beggars Ticks emerge each summer. The cabbage trees, manuka and putaputawētā will provide shade to suppress weeds and cool the stream water - encouraging native fish.

100 Cabbage tree/ti kouka (Cordyline australis)

250 Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium )

250 Flax/harakeke (Phormium tenax)

25 Marbleleaf/putaputawētā (Carpodetus serratus)

250 Carex virgata (vigorous clumping tussock - a successful coloniser in dry and damp areas

• • Please bring your favourite spade, gumboots or similar and suitable clothing for working around the wetland

  • Other items you may like to bring: gardening gloves, water bottle, secateurs, a hat - click here for more details

  • We look forward to seeing you for the planting and a chat over drinks and bickies

  • Please note that as we are planting around the wetland we cannot be responsible for young children - children should be closely supervised by a responsible adult.

In addition to 26 May, please mark the following dates (10am on the 4th Sunday of each month) in your diary:

23 June 2013 (Dudding Park - corner by Seaview Ave)

28 July 2013 (Le Roy Tce)

(2) "SEAs" - protecting urban bush around Le Roys

• • Following our meeting with the Minister for the Environment, Amy Adams on 11 March, she has confirmed that the RMA will not prevent the Auckland Council from protecting local bush. We will be following up for more reassurance about this.

  • Auckland Council's Unitary Plan appears to preserve existing Residential Bush Protection zones under new environmental protection "overlays" called:

    • Tree Protection overlays

    • Significant Ecological Area (SEA) overlays

  • Some of you may have received a circular in your letter box or attended a meeting encouraging you to submit feedback on the SEA overlays to the Council

  • The meeting covered what impact the overlays have on what you can do on your own property

  • However, it is important to think about what these overlays will do to protect your home and neighbourhood from unwanted, unsympathetic development.

  • Without bush protection zones, the environment you enjoy risks being destroyed by avaricious developers who buy, clear-fell, build and move on.

  • To learn more, look at the Protecting Urban Bush webpages SEAs for Auckland - why they are important and Protecting urban bush and the Unitary Plan

• Take action to protect urban bush!

• We invite you to use our template feedback document (click here for a copy) and email it to the Auckland Council

(3) Pest control

Weed and pest control contracts for Le Roys Bush- the Auckland Council's new contractor (NZ Biosecurity Services) has started weed and possum control in Le Roys Bush (including LSB and Lutners Reserves).

The contract does not cover the lower wetland - the committee continues to fundraise and to manage this contract with EcoScience. We are very grateful to the Auckland Council for another EIF Grant towards these recurring costs.

The Le Roys Bush Committee continues to coordinate a rat control programme in the reserve and on private land around the reserve. If you are not already involved but would like to be, please email us at LeRoysBush@gmail.com. We will supply you with bait and a bait station that will help you protect the birds and geckos in the bush and also help keep your property rodent free. In return, we ask that you keep us posted on the number of baits used.

Remember to keep an eye on the What's Coming Up page for any last minute activities or changes.

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

Very best wishes from your committee

POST SCRIPT - REGULAR NEWS SPOTS

Kokopu protection in Le Roys Bush

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

• However further evidence is emerging that some whitebait have started to climb the stream up towards Highbury and maybe starting to breed again.

• We have made submissions to WaterCare asking that they keep us more regularly informed of sewage leaks and other issues

• Also please spread the word about protecting our whitebait ecology.

  • Cars should be washed on the lawn.

  • Don't allow the following pollutants into the waterways:

    • Roof cleaning discharge

    • Exposed aggregate acid and concrete washings

    • Swimming pool discharges

    • Oil, detergent and paint

Volunteer work in Le Roys Bush

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

• Many thanks in particular to the weed control professionals Steve Cook of EcoScience and Richard Tippett of Expert Garden Services who have been doing free volunteer work in Le Roys Bush

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

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

  • 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 LeRoysBush@gmail.com or phone 480-9233 (evenings)

Kauri Dieback Cleaning Stations & Rat and possum control in Le Roys Bush

• Many people are using the cleaning stations but not everyone. Remember Kauri are dying in reserves not too far from Birkenhead.

• Many thanks to Michael who checks and replenishes the cleaning stations every week.

• 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.

• Some volunteers have left the area - so we are on the lookout for more people to monitor rat bait stations or to set possum or stoat traps

• - please email us at LeRoysBush@gmail.com if you can help

This newsletter is sent to people who have expressed an interest in Le Roys Bush and Little Shoal Bay Reserves and related issues. If you have received this newsletter and no longer wish to, please email us at LeRoysBush@gmail.com with "Please UNSUBSCRIBE me" in the subject line. If you are not subscribed and would like to be, please email us with your name, a contact phone number and an indication of what your interests are. Details of the Le Roys Bush Management Committee can be found at LeRoysBush.org.nz

Le Roys Bush Newsletter - April 2013

Hi all

Well, summer is behind us and the drought appears to have broken.

Luckily a lot of the bush in Le Roys appears to have survived unscathed but the few plants losses over the summer will be compensated we hope by a great planting plan for this autumn and winter.

We hope that you and your family and friends will be able to join us on one of these planting fests - 10am on the 4th Sunday of each month.

We look forward to seeing you - if you have no experience, don't worry - we are happy to give you a demonstration to get you started.

(1) Help us plant over 3400 plants from April to July

• • Please join us to help plant over 3400 natives grasses and trees in the Le Roys Bush and Little Shoal Bay reserves

  • These plants will help to suppress the aggressive annual weeds which threaten the bio-diversity of the reserve

• • Please mark 10am on the 4th Sunday of each month in your diary

  • Bring your favourite spade, gumboots or similar and suitable clothing for working around the wetland edge

  • Other items you may like to bring: gardening gloves, water bottle, secateurs, a hat - click here for more details

(2) Protecting urban bush around Le Roys under the RMA and Unitary Plans

• • Many thanks to all those who helped prepare submissions on the RMA Amendment Bill

  • Along with 9 other groups from the area, we met with the Minister for the Environment, Amy Adams, and our local MP, Jonathan Coleman

  • The minister was receptive to our cause and has undertaken to come back to us on the issues

  • We have asked that the Minister seeks to ensure that:

    • The RMA will allow Councils to protect areas of urban bush (even if they contain no trees)

    • The existing residential bush protection zones will continue under the Unitary Plan without interruption

  • The next step will be to ensure that the Auckland Council's Unitary Plan provides adequate protection

Here is what we you suggest you do:

(A) Click on our link Protecting Le Roys from RMA and under the Auckland Unitary Plan

(B) Talk to your friends and neighbours about the risks

(C) Be ready to support submissions to the Minister and to the Unitary Plan

• For more information go to the Protecting Urban Bush website

  • - note that not all views on this website reflect those of the Le Roys Bush and Little Shoal Bay Management Committee

(3) Other events

The Highbury Track - if you walk down the track from Onewa Road towards the waterfall, you may have spotted some small white surveyors pegs on the right hand side of the track. These pegs mark approximately where the Highbury link will start. Work is expected to begin on building the track later this year.

ASB Weeding day - many thanks to the 10 volunteers from the ASB Bank who helped us with weed eradication below Maritime Tce on 14 March.

Auckland Council Weed Policy - the committee is planning a submission to this policy document. We would welcome your feedback on what should be in our submission. For further details click here for the Council Draft Policy and the LRB Draft Response.

Weed control contracts for Le Roys Bush- our committee met with the Council volunteer coordinator Paul Duffy recently to talk with the firm NZ BIosecurity Services which now has the contract to undertake weed control in Le Roys Bush. We have requested a continuation of the ecological control framework which has seen major improvements in Le Roys over recent years.

The contract does not cover the lower wetland - the committee continues to fundraise and to manage this contract with EcoScience. We are very grateful to the Auckland Council for another EIF Grant towards these recurring costs.

Remember to keep an eye on the What's Coming Up page for any last minute activities or changes.

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

Very best wishes from your committee

POST SCRIPT - REGULAR NEWS SPOTS

Kokopu protection in Le Roys Bush

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

• However further evidence is emerging that some whitebait have started to climb the stream up towards Highbury. Watch this space.

• We have made submissions to WaterCare asking that they keep us more regularly informed of sewage leaks and other issues

• Also please spread the word about protecting our whitebait ecology.

  • Cars should be washed on the lawn.

  • Don't allow the following pollutants into the waterways:

    • Roof cleaning discharge

    • Exposed aggregate acid and concrete washings

    • Swimming pool discharges

    • Oil, detergent and paint

Volunteer work in Le Roys Bush

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

• Many thanks in particular to the weed control professionals Steve Cook of EcoScience and Richard Tippett of Expert Garden Services who have been doing free volunteer work in Le Roys Bush

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

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

  • 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 leroysbush@gmail.com or phone 480-9233 (evenings)

Kauri Dieback Cleaning Stations & Rat and possum control in Le Roys Bush

• Many people are using the cleaning stations but not everyone. Remember Kauri are dying in reserves not too far from Birkenhead.

• 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.

• Some volunteers have left the area - so we are on the lookout for more people to monitor rat bait stations - please

• email us at LeRoysBush@gmail.com if you can help

Quick update - 22 March 2013

On 22 March 2013 21:05, Le Roys Bush <leroysbush@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all

We hope your garden is surviving the drought and the cost of water.

If you have walked through Le Roys lately you may have noticed that many mahoe (whitey-wood) are struggling. There is still a modest amount of water in the pools - so we hope the kokopu are hanging on and moisture in the wetland - although much of it is dry.

(1) There is a weeding bee from 10am to noon this Sunday 24 March at the bottom of Glade Place.

This is the first step in preparing for the major planting bees we will be having this winter.

Please bring the usual things: boots, your favourite spade, folding saw, suitable clothes, hat, gloves, water bottle, suntan lotion etc

- see https://sites.google.com/site/leroysbushauckland/what-s-coming-up for further details.

(2) There are brief notes on the RMA meeting with the Minister for the Environment, Amy Adams, on the page https://sites.google.com/site/protectingurbanbush/ What Can I Do?

We were well received although somewhat surprised to learn that the Minister had a Crown Law Office opinion that section 76 of the RMA does not prevent Councils protecting bush. We are asking the Minister for more information.

Please encourage your friends and neighbours to sign up for the Protecting Urban Bush supporters list.

Over 20 people told us that they had made submissions on the RMA Bill. Hearings will be in Wellington next Thursday and at Mangere on Monday 8 April. Keep an eye on the Protecting Urban Bush website.

(3) The new Unitary Plan released last week allows anyone to enter an address into a web page and then see what planning controls are proposed for that address. On first sight, the existing bush protection zones seem to be carried over into a natural protection overlay. We are still analysing this and will be in touch with supporters as soon as we can during April.

If you want to explore the Unitary Plan on line, there are some links on our page Protecting Le Roys and its surrounds under the Auckland Unitary Plan

(4) Thanks to the volunteers from the ASB Compliance Team

It was a pleasure to have a great team from the ASB on Thursday 14 - the team dealt to a lot of weeds and saved many large trees from blue morning glory. See https://sites.google.com/site/leroysbushauckland/projects/2013 for more details.

Please get in touch if you have any feedback or questions about our activities.

Best wishes

The Le Roys Bush and Litlle Shoal Bay Management Committee

Le Roys Bush Newsletter - February 2013

Hi all

We hope you have all had a very enjoyable summer holiday, that your garden/bush is not too dry and that 2013 is looking up for you.

The first item in our newsletter is a very important issue. We urge you to give it your serious attention as it may impact on your enjoyment of your own property and your neighbourhood. This newsletter brings you some bad news and some good news.

(1) "No Tree Protection" Bill will remove bush protection zones around Le Roys

Submissions close on 28 Feb 2013

• • Are you aware that a significant part of the bush all around Le Roys Bush and Little Shoal Bay reserves is on private property

  • It is currently protected from major unsympathetic development by the planning zones in our existing District Scheme

  • The Government is pushing through an Resource Management Amendment Bill one part of which will remove protection for any trees

  • This means that your Council can no longer protect the environment many people bought their home for.

  • If you came to live near Le Roys Bush because you love the bush outlook across the gully from you - this view may be at risk!

  • Most people we speak to are very happy with the bush protection zones around the reserve - democratically enacted by our local Council

  • Some feel that the tree protection rules have been a bit draconian in some cases BUT they do NOT want to see all protection removed

  • An action group Protecting Urban Bush has been set up. The Protecting Urban Bush website tells you what you can do about the bill

  • If you care about the bush and its views, amenity and natural benefits, please make a submission

Here is what you need to do:

(A) Choose one of the 2 sample submissions attached below (see under "Files below") and amend it to suit your views

(B) Submit it on-line to the Select Committee without delay (submissions close on Thursday 28 Feb 2013)

1. Open this link and it will bring you to the website.

2. The link is on-line to the Select Committee

3. Go to the VERY bottom of this page and type in the security code letters and it will open up the submission form.

4. You put in your name, phone number and address and organisation.

5. Then you can attach your Word document and you are done.

If you have any problems submitting it on-line, click here for details of how to submit on-line

or email it to me with your name and phone number and I will submit it on your behalf.

• For more information go to the Protecting Urban Bush website

  • - note that not all views on this website reflect those of the Le Roys Bush and Little Shoal Bay Management Committee

(2) Benefits of the bush restoration programme

Some properties around Le Roys Bush have noticed a significant improvement in the wildlife in the bush at the bottom of their backyard. For example some landowners have seen rare geckos (such as the Green Gecko shown below) in the bush by their houses. An expert suggests that this is an indication that the rat control programme is working. So please protect our native bush and wildlife - help with the rat control programme - and submit against the "No Tree Protection" bill

(3) Mark our working bees in your diary

• • 2013 will be a productive and busy year - we have about 3000 natives to plant in the wetland

  • Please mark 10am to noon on the 4th Sunday of each month - especially from April onwards - we have some large planting bees scheduled

  • Bring gloves, secateurs and suitable clothing for working around the wetland edge - click here for more details

  • If you would like to take part in mid-week working bees, please email leroysbush@gmail.com letting us know what times and days would suit you yet.

(4) Auckland Unitary Plan

• • In mid-March, the Auckland Council will release the new Unitary Plan which draws together the 9 District Plans from the old local bodies.

  • Your committee will review this in consultation with the Kaipatiki Local Board and other interested parties.

  • The words "bush protection zones" will be replaced by "overlays"

  • The important question will be how much protection the new overlays will give to the values we have fought for over the years.

  • We will be back in touch.

(5) Recent events

Sunday 17 February 2013 - World Wetland Day Walk

About 35 people from all over Auckland turned up for the Auckland Council Wetland Walk in the Little Shoal Bay Wetland.

Monique and Graham from Auckland Council led the walks assisted by Carol and Gail (Auckland Council) and Linda, Geoff and Keith from the LRB Management Committee. Graham had set traps the night before and was able to show participants 5 banded kokopu, 2 inanga, several short-finned eels and a heaps of little gambusia from the wetland area. He explained how the kokopu and eels manage to climb the steep rocks in the waterfalls. Monique told participants about the gradations of salt-water marsh plants down around Rods Island. The birdlife was mostly hiding - a white-faced heron emerged after the event.

Amongst the participants was the grand-daughter of Edward Le Roy's sister who was interested to hear about the photo of the Le Roy family that we were given by a generous donor. She recalled Edward's family busy sewing tents and sails in the old family business.

Sunday 27 January 2013 - Releasing Bee

This "releasing bee" was following a recommendation from the Auckland City's Volunteer and Biodiversity Coordinator to try "stomping" on the weeds rather than pulling them out. Lynda located the small pukatea from previous years - still growing well - but not very big yet. Ken located a 1.2 m high kahikatea buried under lotus and other weeds. Geoff and Troy found a number of manuka planted earlier this year growing well - some with flowers or possibly seeds. Pukeko had pulled out quite a lot but overall the successful ones were pleasing.

Please remember to keep an eye on the What's Coming Up page - we will be announcing an exciting planting programme for 2013 soon. And please get in touch with us about any questions, ideas, offers of help or concerns

Very best wishes from your committee

POST SCRIPT - REGULAR NEWS SPOTS

Kauri Dieback Cleaning Stations & Rat and possum control in Le Roys Bush

• Many people are using the cleaning stations but not everyone. Remember Kauri are dying in reserves not too far from Birkenhead.

• 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.

• Some volunteers have left the area - so we are on the lookout for more people to monitor rat bait stations - please

• email us at LeRoysBush@gmail.com if you can help

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 have met with WaterCare engineers but are still concerned about ongoing sewage discharges arising from the failure of the plastic lining in some sewers.

Volunteer work in Le Roys Bush

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

  • Many thanks in particular to the weed control professionals Steve Cook of EcoScience and Richard Tippett of Expert Garden Services who have been doing free volunteer work in Le Roys Bush

• Thanks also to Linda and Sylvia who have been "stomping" weeds down by Dudding Park. If you walk regularly in Le Roys and would be happy to do 5 minutes "green gym" stomping get in touch with leroysbush@gmail.com and we will tell you how to do the green gym stomp.

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

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

  • 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 leroysbush@gmail.com or phone 480-9233 (evenings)

Biosecurity warning - the Red Vented Bulbul

Auckland Council has circulated a warning about an invasive pest bird the Red Vented Bulbul.

The red vented bulbul is a medium-sized bird (20 - 22 cm). Red vented bulbuls are active birds with a generally dark in appearance with a white abdomen and rump and a distinctive crimson patch beneath its tail. The upper parts are generally smoke-brown to black with each feather being darker in the centre, giving a scaled appearance. The head is partially crested and black, the throat is black and the underparts are greyish white. Red vented bulbuls are known to cause significant damage to fruit and vegetable crops and aggressively chase and attack other birds. They will feed on native fruits, berries, insects, flower nectar, seeds and buds displacing species such as Kereru by their aggressive competitive nature. They may also help in the spread of seeds of other invasive species.

Tell your friends and ask people to report any sightings IMMEDIATELY to: 09 445-9653 or after-hours hotline 0800 36 24 68

For more information see http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/red-vented-bulbul

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