East of Highbury Project 2007 to 2010

Recent activity East of Highbury (last updated 6 February 2011)

Note: this page is a copy of the old Google Groups page https://groups.google.com/group/leroys-bush-and-little-shoal-bay/web/recent-activity-east-of-highbury. This old site can no longer be maintained so we are progressively moving all details across to this site.

6 February 2010 - progress

We have applied to the BNZ Closed for Good project for a team of about 15 people to help with further weeding and rubbish removal in March 2011.

In a mini working bee in Highbury yesterday, we cleared a lot of scotch thistles from behind the Stationery Shop. If you would like to help in another mini-working bee over the next few weeks to dead-head the privet and ginger coming into flower, please call Keith on 021 240 9414 or email LeRoysBush@gmail.com

We continue to work on the project to protect a walkway from Highbury down to join up with the existing Le Roys Bush tracks down to Little Shoal Bay. Many thanks to the Kaipatiki Local Board for including in the 2011 plans a project to scope and develop this walkway using the $1.2m funding allocated by the North Shore CIty Council from reserves contributions.

3 November 2010 - John and Conservation Volunteers

Thanks very much to Nicki Malone, City-Wide Parks Coordinator at Council for arranging help from the Conservation Volunteers. John Busson, the team coordinator, was very helpful and the volunteers made good progress with a number of projects: They got a lot of carexes planted by the stream. Mulched around the kowhai and other new plantings. Weeded part of the area below 270 Onewa Rd and cleared some logs. And they did a brilliant job of restacking the bamboo below Westpac so it will be possible to plant around it and control weedgrowth and erosion better. Thanks very much to them all - one Kiwi, one Korean, 1 from France (Burgundy), and the rest from Germany.

15 July 2010 - ASB working bee held on 6 August

A working bee is planned for Friday afternoon on 6 August 2010.

Our chairperson Carol has organised a group of volunteers from the ASB Bank in the city who will help to plant trees (mahoe, kowhai, karaka) and grasses (carex secta and carex lessoniana). The trees will be planted on open land over behind where the bamboo had spread from behind the Westpac building to start to screen a large concrete block retaining wall. The carexes will be planted around the stream to reduce erosion.

Nicki of the NSCC Parks Department is supplying a rubbish skip so that we can clear away the whiteware, tyres and other rubbish that has been dumped in the reserve over decades.

Since the last write-up we have also done a survey of a possible track from Highbury down the stream to join up with the Onewa Road track. We have had strong support from local business people who see potential for a unique feature to attract people to enjoy the bush walks of the area and the gourmet delights of Birkenhead/Highbury. A generous citizen who enjoys walking from Northcote through Le Roys Bush has also offered to make a donation towards the cost of surveying the track.

Spreading Mulch - East of Highbury - Sunday 13 and 20 June 2010

Two working bees were held in June-July to spread two truckloads of mulch around the carpark area. Thanks to the support of Stephen Wong of Ray White Real Estate and the owners of the property at 65-67, this area has been transformed from a rubbish dump littered with weeds into what will soon be a pleasant landscaped area with native plantings. Thanks to all concerned.

Thanks very much to Russell Webb of Tree Fellas for delivering a big truckload of mulch on Saturday.

And thanks also to the team of people (Carol, Dave, Finlay, Helen, Isobel, James, Jenny, Ken, Kate, Lisa, Lynn, Phil, Ron, Tom, Don and Eloise) who turned out at short notice to help spread the mulch. The area is looking better and better. And there are fewer weeds to spread their seeds down the stream.

Thanks to: "Fo" the friendly fantail who turned out on 19 and 20 April and helped remind us all what the bush can bring to Highbury.

We learnt from Stephen, who owns one of the other properties adjoining the reserve, that the native trees you can see above on the Kordamentha property were planted by the NSCC after they did significant work on the drains on the Kordamentha property.

30 May 2010

Since the last report we have had a number of working bees.

Monique and Northcote College students have run a working bee over summer. In May and June thanks to the Tree Fellas we had two deliveries of mulch which have been spread around the carpark, on the Kordamentha property and in the reserve below 266 to 270 Onewa Road.

It is great to see the reserve opened up now that the owners of the Westpac Building have cleared the bamboo on their land which was creeping into the reserve and other neigbouring properties. We have done a survey of a possible track from Highbury down the stream to join up with the track from Onewa Road to the waterfall.

If you look out the windows from The Lounge coffee bar you will see a major improvement.

24 October 2009

On Wednesday 21, Ken and Monique and Keith planted about 100 small carex secta plus some flax and larger carex on the council reserve next to the Westpac Building. Ken has started tackling the bamboo which is invading the bush from the Westpac property. The scaffolding there is now down. This is probably the last planting we will do for the year. However, we will need to have some working bees to release the plants from weeds and also over any dry summer weeks to water the recent plantings.

18 October 2009

Ferns and toe-toe released by Ken

Planting around the stream below Earwig Studios

The owners of the building housing Westpac Bank have been repairing the drainage, closing in the basement and erecting scaffolding around the building. Our group hopes to liaise with them to remove the bamboo which is spreading from their property into LeRoys Bush.

11 October 2009

STREAMSIDE PLANTING THIS WEEK - VOLUNTEERS WELCOME:

This week we hope to finish planting native grasses (eg carex secta) and flax around the top of the stream behind the Birkenhead Shops in Highbury.

* If you have any time at 5pm on Wednesday evening after work or at 10am this Saturday or Sunday please let me know by mobile phone (021 240 9414) or email to coordinate a meeting point.

* If you come along to help, please bring your favourite spade and secateurs and gardening clothes - gumboots are recommended. Access is a bit slippery so take care.

* If in doubt about the weather, please phone or text me on 021 240 9414

News update: - Ken, Monique and Keith planted about 60 carexes around the head of the stream on Wednesday evening 7 October. The soil around the stream is soft and easy to plant in - but the erosion around the stream is quite severe in places.

On Friday 9 October, Ken did some more planting of carex around the stream.

On Saturday 10 October, Graham, Ken and Keith planted more carex, ti tree and other shrubs around the stream below the Stationer's shop. There is severe erosion around the stream - appears to be from stormwater coming down from the shops.

Carex washed down stream by erosion

Ken and Graham planting shrubs, carex and ti tree by streamside.

On Sunday 11 October, Steve M and Keith did some more planting of carex around the stream. An old washing machine bowl was pulled out of the stream bed and a car or truck battery was dug out of the side of the stream. Luckily it looks as though little or no acid had escaped. The erosion in this part of the stream appears to be getting worse - two of the carexes planted by Water Services further down the steam had been washed out - one was lying in the stream bed, the other was partly exposed. Steve has donated some kowhai which have been planted between the head of the stream and the carpark. There are still some carex left to plant - so if you have some spare time, please contact Keith.

OIL POLLUTION AND FISH IN LE ROYS BUSH STREAM:

While planting around the carpark behind the model shop in the weekend, we found that some wretch had emptied what looked like a litre of engine oil in the pampas grass beside the apartment block at 81 Birkenhead Ave. If you work or live overlooking this area, please report any suspicious activities to ActionLine or the police. Hopefully we cleaned up most of the oil and have prevented further spread.

Northcote College students have been surveying native fish in the upper Le Roys Bush. They have identified over 30 banded kokopu - the sort that can climb up the waterfall. It is great to know that the fish are living in the bush - the last thing we need is further pollution down the stream. For more information about the great work Northcote College is doing in the reserve see Indigenous fish of the Little Shoal Bay area.

Six bags of soil and pampas grass soaked in oil removed from East of Highbury - if you see people working on vehicles near Le Roys - please remember the native fish who need clean streams. Discourage oil spills, cigarette butts and other toxins near waterways.

September 2009

On 20 September, a small working bee planted a number of grasses, shrubs and trees behind the shops on Birkenhead Ave; Megan and Darren planted trees on the northern edge of the on the NSCC reserve behind 35-41 Birkenhead Ave. Keith planted grasses and flax around the carpark behind 65-67 Birkenhead Ave (the model shop) and shrubs in the gully around the stream.

Plants were provided by donations from the owners of 65-67 Birkenhead Ave, the NSCC stream-side assistance programme and a local resident.

It's good to see that the plantings from 20 June are doing well. Some people have been playing around a bit and removing stakes from plants - which is a concern as some of the carexes are very small and likely to get trampled if they are not marked.

Nov 2008 to June 2009

- thanks to all the people who joined us for the East of Highbury planting day and clean up on Saturday 20 June (9.30 to 11.30 am)

- the photo above shows the area cleared ready for the planting day - compare this with the photos taken before the work started showing this area covered in ginger, privet and pampas grass (see East of Highbury - Work began 1 Oct 2007) in particular the photo Wattle &Pampas Behind Onewa Rd Aptmts.

For more information about the 20 June planting day, please see:

Planting and cleanup day - East of Highbury - 20 June 2009

- thanks very much to Ken who has been weeding the area behind the NSCC property at 35 Birkenhead Ave - the photo to the right shows how it is looking now - a far cry from the mass of wattles and other weeds before the Conservation Volunteers started work (see Conservation Volunteers - Before and after 1 to 5 Oct 2007).

- weeding has been completed in the area to the south of 266 to 270 Onewa Road - pampas, ginger, tradescantia (wandering due), privet, honeysuckle, wattles and many other pest plants have been sprayed by contractors employed by the Le Roys Bush and Little Shoal Bay Management committee with funding provided by the ARC's Environmental Initiative Fund and the Birkenhead/Northcote Community Board - the picture above shows the cleared ground in the foreground below 266-270 Onewa Road; in the background is the private property which our group is gradually clearing of pest plants such as willow, wattle, privet, ginger, gorse, honeysuckle, kikuyu and many others

- this area conceals the start of the Le Roys Bush stream - a large concrete drain exiting into a very rough patch of clay, weed plants and rubbish; we hope to start planting some of this area with native carex shortly; there are indications that the NSCC water services may plant the banks of the stream further down where it passes through the reserve

- planning is underway for a planting bee on Saturday 20 June 2009 with an invitation going out to local residents, working people and property owners to help

- the area is littered with bottles, cans and assorted inorganic rubbish; in preparation for the planting day, we investigated getting community workers to assist with clearing all the bottles, cans and other inorganic rubbish from the site - but this idea will not be followed through; if you would be interested in helping with a cleanup day, please contact Keith

- we have received the landscape architects plans - please contact us if you would like to have input into the final plans.

July to October 2008

- weeding has been done around the flax and toe-toe behind 35 Birkenhead Ave; mountain flax has been planted behind the stationers

- contractors working for the East of Highbury project have been clearing weeds - including pampas grass, ginger, tradescantia - in the reserve land

- a NSCC landscape architect is developing a plan for planting next winter

- a fire occurred in pampas grass below the carpark at 270 Onewa Rd damaging the carpark and drainpipes above; as well as invading native bush, wattles and pampas grass are very combustible

- a working bee is planned to clear the rubbish (old chairs, bottles, spray cans) - presumably left behind by vandals who congregate under the carpark

15 June 2008

- members of our group appeared before the Birkenhead/Northcote Community Board's parks committee in early June to present a proposal for a management plan for the area to the East of Highbury; the Committee was very supportive and have asked the Parks Department to liaise with the Water Services department and to report back.

30 May 2008

- contractors started spraying pampas and ginger in upper Le Roys Bush; work will continue on plants which can be treated during winter

- plants which require warmer weather will be addressed in spring

11 April 2008

- have been speaking to council officers in the Parks Dept and Water Services about a high level development plan for the upper reserve area; a meeting will be convened during April (if you would like to take part or get a copy of some preliminary notes towards a development plan please contact Keith)

- a contractor is due to start later in April to control the invasive pest plants in Le Roys Bush from Highbury down to below Enterprise St

- we will need to start a revegetation plan to infill the areas where weeds die off - volunteers welcome to help with this replanting.

- Birkenhead Town Centre Committee has nominated the manager of Westpac Bank as its representative to attend meetings on a development plan

18 March 2008

- we have been working in the private land behind the Birkenhead shops; major successes so far - have cut back the wattles, gorse, privet and woolly nightshade (applying vigilant where possible; will need to monitor to prevent re-growth); drilled and applied glyphosate to the monkey apple and some of the crack willows; have dead-headed as much ginger plant and pampas grass as possible; however due to a broken leg I cannnot get back in to finish off the pampas grass (will need to check for seedlings next year)

19 Jan 2008

- we had a small working bee to eliminate some of the invasive trees that risk spreading down into Le Roys - eg wattles, willows, acmena, privet from the private land behind the shops (thanks again to the land owners for their permission - there is only one landowner who has not given permission - so the bamboo behind Westpac remains)

- we hope shortly to let the contract for a contractor to treat invasive pest plants in reserve land

- thanks very much to Paul and Darren for their support of our work in giving us access to power and water; and to Paul for helping to water the planting behind the Korean restaurant

- a brief inspection today shows that the flax and toe-toe are doing ok so far - but they will need watching during dry periods.

Photos showing outcome of working bee to mulch plantings and clear wattles and creepers:

The big wattles have now been felled leaving the punga to stand free:

The creepers that have been cut back so far are starting to brown (sorry about poor quality of photo):