Events

Castledowns Wetland March Working Bee

The drought is over and the Dipton Stream was flowing too much for our Rural Women New Zealand bus trip held on the 26th February. We were not able to cross it to inspect the forest as it was too deep. During the drought it had almost stopped flowing.

Our plans for 2018 are to continue to open up the area and tidy up the work that we have been doing, to find the cabbage trees and to search and destroy the hawthorn trees. We have four afternoons for you to put on to your calendars and invite your friends along to help to make some progress.

The dates are Wednesday 28th March

Sunday 22April

Wednesday 23May

We are able to supply cutting tools and gel for pasting on trees but if you would prefer to bring your own please do. Long gumboots leggings and overalls are a good idea sometimes . We like to stop for afternoon tea so if you have a new creation please bring it along and share.

We are happy for you to come and just enjoy the Wetland

If you would like to share transport from Invercargill or have questions please contact me Ann Irving 2176428 or 0276569319

Please tell all your friends , relations and grandchildren about this special place

Wilding Pine Working Bee

Volunteers wanted! (PDF, 1.79 MB)

Spend the day helping remove wilding pines from Mid Dome

SATURDAY 24 MARCH

You will need to be reasonably fit and wear suitable footwear and clothing for a day in the mountains. Lunch will be provided.

Registrations essential as spaces are limited. Contact Randall Milne on 0800 76 88 45 or email [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]

Night Creatures

Night Creatures

‘twilight wander looking for bats, bugs and owls’

Saturday 17th March 2018

Forest Hill Scenic Reserve, 6pm*

(meet at Forest Hill Crossing entrance)

Click here (PDF, 597.49 kB) for the event poster

*6pm start with a safety briefing (you must attend this to come on the event). We will be walking a formed but uneven and steep track with limited torch use. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times and behave appropriately during this event. Bring torch, wear appropriate clothing and footwear, and bring a fluro vest if you have one. Meet at 5.30 for an optional BYO picnic tea. Finish time approx. 8.30pm.

Registration essential, by Fri 16 March

To Register, contact:

Forest and Bird Southland—Ali Meade [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] Phone: 0221524285 

KCC Southland: Southland KCC Coordinator—Bronwyn Graham, Email: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]. Phone: 03 213 0017 

Landcare Field Day

Environment Southland and Invercargill City Council Parks Division invite you to a Landcare Networking Field Day.

The day will be a great day out, hearing from all the landcare groups in the morning, as well as a guest speaker from the Coastal Restoration Trust. After a lunch we will have a field trip around Sandy Point and Oreti Beach, show casing the work that the ICC Parks Division has carried out.

When: 10am Saturday 10th March 2018

Programme:

10 -12 Morning networking session at Environment Southland (Corner North road and Price Street

12 Lunch

12.45 - 4.30 Field Trip to Sandy Point, Otatara

For full details see the event flyer (PDF, 370.64 kB)or Contact Nathan Cruickshank on 0800 76 88 45

Forest and Bird Trip to Waituna

World wetland day recognised at Waituna Lagoon. (Article thanks to Jenny Campbell)

Learning more about the health and wildlife of Waituna Lagoon and the Mokotua area was the reason for members of Southland Forest and Bird, Southland Natural History Field Club and Southland Tramping Club members to gather last Saturday to mark World Wetland day.

The group walked along the north edge of the lagoon, observing special plants such as endangered Ruppia and New Zealand musk ( Mimulus) which was in full flower and being visited by bumble bees for nectar, organiser Gay Munro said.

‘’ When lake levels get high and affect farm drainage then the lagoon is opened to allow water to drain out to sea, and if the lagoon stays open over summer months , the Ruppia dies back affecting the health of the lagoon, ‘’ she said. ‘’ It has been 18 months since it was tidal.’’

Members of the group were keen bird watchers so there were frequent stops to observe and identify such species as banded dotterel, pied stilt, grey teal duck, black fronted tern, shoveler duck and turnstone.

‘’ One godwit was spotted on a sand bar and the group was very fortunate to see a usually secretive fernbird in the shrubs along the shore,’’ Munro said. ‘’ World Wetland day on Friday ( 2 February) commemorates the signing of the Ramsar Convention and is celebrated around the world on that day.’’

A growing awareness of the value of wetlands brought people together in Ramsar, Iran in 1971 where the Convention was established, with 138 countries as signatories at present. Waituna was recognised as a wetland of national importance in 1976 and by 2006 it was one of only six Ramsar sites in New Zealand.

A Deed of Recognition has been signed which recognises Ngaitahu’s historic, spiritual and traditional relationships with Waituna Wetland and manawhenua status which results from this relationship.

‘’ With high nutrient levels of concern along with high sediment loads brought down by the river, in 2001 concerned local farmers formed the Waituna Landcare group,’’ Munro said. ‘’ They work closely with Environment Southland and Department of Conservation , presently working with local school and encouraging riparian planting. ’’

The group moved on to Ron and Gay Munro’s property at Mokotua to have lunch and go for a bush walk in their QE 11 Covenant area. This was followed by a visit to Gary and Angela Christie’s farm to observe the difference fencing can make in a 13 ha area of native bush in 2013, so excluding stock and set up a trapping programme.

‘’ We started trapping in 2010 and in the first two years we caught 300 possums and 44 cats as well as stoats, ferrets and rats, with very few being caught now in our on- going programme and we have noticed a great increase in bird life, ’’ G Christie said. ‘’ We used to be able to see through the bush to the other side as there was no ground cover but the fence has meant revegetation with ferns now covering the ground along with lots of different native seedlings which means we are winning.’’

‘’The day was very informative and everyone agreed the conditions had been excellent for the field trip to a very special area,’’ G Munro said.