It's great to see that spring is here, and the days are gradually getting longer – and warmer. Landcare Okareka volunteers have been busy over the past few months undertaking planting in several areas around Lake Okareka environs.
The first planting carried out was in the Taumaihi reserve at the end of Acacia Road. We are planting in the areas around the edge of the mown part of the reserve where many weeds such as jasmine, mountbretia, ivy and so on have been removed in the past 15 months or so. All of this work is with the support of local Department of Conservation staff and falls under the Weedbuster programme. We have also had the support and assistance of Mon, the Manager of Lebua Lake House. He has given us vehicle access on Working Bee days. Thank you Mon! Thanks also to the management of Lebua for keeping the grass on the mown part of the reserve area mowed over the warmer months.
Other areas planted have been at the Department of Conservation Millar Road camp entrance – we hope that the plants will survive the wallabies in the area – we have tried to choose plant varieties that are less appetising to wallabies! More planting has happened in the Mistletoe track area and in the back of the Tikitapu Reseve planting (opposite Benn Road) – a joint project with Rotorua Forest & Bird members, Rotorua Botanical Society members and Landcare Okareka volunteers.
There are still more plantings to be done – up at Lake Tikitapu, also some infill planting at the pump station area, and some pohutukawas to go down on the walkway, to replace some kowhai that have just not grown at all. We also have some more Cyperus ustulatus to put in to protect lake shore line from erosion near the shade structure.
We have some repairs to try to make to the surface of the walkway, after the very heavy rain fall we got in August. We also have some drainage to install in the walkway track in the area beyond Silver Beach.
We will be holding a litter pick up around Lake Okareka to tie in with Keep New Zealand Beautiful Clean Up week on Saturday 13th September from 9am, meeting at the Lake Okareka Community Hall.
In the meantime, keep an eye out for Landcare Okareka sign boards advertising the working bees. Everyone is most welcome to come along and help. If you have any questions or want further information please contact Sandra 362 8865 or email sgoodwin@actrix.co.nz
The first planting carried out was in the Taumaihi reserve at the end of Acacia Road. We are planting in the areas around the edge of the mown part of the reserve where many weeds such as jasmine, mountbretia, ivy and so on have been removed in the past 15 months or so. All of this work is with the support of local Department of Conservation staff and falls under the Weedbuster programme. We have also had the support and assistance of Mon, the Manager of Lebua Lake House. He has given us vehicle access on Working Bee days. Thank you Mon! Thanks also to the management of Lebua for keeping the grass on the mown part of the reserve area mowed over the warmer months.
Other areas planted have been at the Department of Conservation Millar Road camp entrance – we hope that the plants will survive the wallabies in the area – we have tried to choose plant varieties that are less appetising to wallabies! More planting has happened in the Mistletoe track area and in the back of the Tikitapu Reseve planting (opposite Benn Road) – a joint project with Rotorua Forest & Bird members, Rotorua Botanical Society members and Landcare Okareka volunteers.
There are still more plantings to be done – up at Lake Tikitapu, also some infill planting at the pump station area, and some pohutukawas to go down on the walkway, to replace some kowhai that have just not grown at all. We also have some more Cyperus ustulatus to put in to protect lake shore line from erosion near the shade structure.
We have some repairs to try to make to the surface of the walkway, after the very heavy rain fall we got in August. We also have some drainage to install in the walkway track in the area beyond Silver Beach.
We will be holding a litter pick up around Lake Okareka to tie in with Keep New Zealand Beautiful Clean Up week on Saturday 13th September from 9am, meeting at the Lake Okareka Community Hall.
In the meantime, keep an eye out for Landcare Okareka sign boards advertising the working bees. Everyone is most welcome to come along and help. If you have any questions or want further information please contact Sandra 362 8865 or email sgoodwin@actrix.co.nz
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