Southland Ecological Restoration Network

Southland Ecological Restoration Network

A Network of Southland Community Conservation Projects

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Events

April • Gore Refuse Site

Upcoming events

Castledowns Wetland Planting Session

3 May 2026

Following the removal of willows along the stream side, there are large areas to be revegetated with natives. We are very grateful to a number of people for making plants available to us. The next challenge is getting them in the ground to compete with the weeds that will also make a come back. All welcome to come along to help us plant more native trees!!

Please contact project co-ordinator, Ann, ph 027 656 9319, if you are thinking of coming. Car pooling can be arranged.

2026 April. A start made on getting native plants back in where the willows have been cleared.

Past events

Planting day, Rural Women’s Castledowns Wetland project

12 April 2026

There has just been major works undertaken there removing the willows along the river, leaving large areas for replanting. Thiis has made an exciting change to the site and has important implications for management and the restoration plans. They will be planting , spraying and if they have chainsaws they will be working on the North Track beside the stream to restore part of the track. Please bring gloves and tools if you have them.

If you are interested in checking this project out, contact Ann, 027 6569319.

Biodiversity Monitoring for Restoration Success

11 April 2026

Morning of the Saturday (10am - 12:30pm). At the QEII reserve Te Wai Korari at the entrance to Riverton on SH1. This site is now under the management of Aparima Pestbusters.

A biodiversity advice workshop for community groups and interested members of the public to explain what biodiversity monitoring is, why it is needed to gauge restoration success, what the different monitoring methods can tell us and when they should be used.

Free. Refreshments provided. Open to all. Booking registration is essential: book here. For more details contact ES Biodiversity Team for details meantime: Mike Hargraves 021 311 207 [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] or go to ES fb page

SERN Autumn Field Trip

11 April 2026

This year our focus is on Thomson’s Bush in Invercargill where Friends of Thomsons Bush have been working for a couple of years now, mostly on weed control. Their work has been rewarded with masses of new seedlings of native plants, birdsong galore and even visits from kaka and kakariki.

We will meet at the carpark & playground off Queens Drive at 1.30pm for a tour of the area, following which we will help with one of their major tasks in this area – ivy control. Bags will be provided to put the pulled ivy into, however bring gloves and heavy footwear/gumboots, etc, depending on the day.

Any enquiries or to get involved in the FoTB regular Wednesday morning working bees, please contact Judy at 021 142 7068.

Mid Oreti Catchment Group Monthly Nursery Drop In

7 April 2026

NEXT Tuesday Mid Oreti Catchment Group have their monthly nursery drop in session

All welcome to come along and learn some native plant growing skills & ask your questions to help you grow them at home

Tuesday 7th April, 4-6 pm - it will be great fun!

AB Lime Nursery, 10 Bend Road, Winton (follow the signs to the AB Lime nursery once on site)

Stay for as little or as long as you like - all ages welcome

All plants go to our Mid Oreti Mini Forest Movement Project- providing native plants to local community groups and landowners

Learn: Plant Identification

26 – 27 March 2026

Delivered in partnership with DOC, this course provides a range of resources to identify native plants.

$25 for the two days. Will be hosted by the Southland Community Nursery, Otatara. Open to all but you will need to register (as a student for the short course) on the NMIT site.

Book here:

https://www.nmit.ac.nz/study/short-courses/cfs423-plant-identification

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2022 Looking up the valley to the Takitimus. With a good local seed source, natural regeneration is already coming through the broom.

Te Kōawa Mahinga Kai Restoration Project

Ponds were created to improve whitebait spawning grounds. Flax was planted following pond excavation.

Te Wai Korari Wetland, Riverton

Planting at Gore 14.11.09.

Gore Native Forest Restoration

Malcolm MacKenzie with plants ready to go in to sprayed off ground.

Goble's Gully, Riverton

© 2026 • Website by RS

Our Supporters

Invercargill City Council Environment Southland Department of Conservation Forest and Bird Southland Community Nursery
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