SERN Autumn Field day - Kew Bush and Bowmans Bush
Despite the weather, a hardy group gathered at Kew Bush to celebrate the work of Allan McPherson and John Tait and their fellow Invercargill South Lions Club members over the last 15 years, helping to return the kahikatea forest to health. Over that time they have undertaken a war on holly and other weeds in the bush, propagated and planted natives back in to the open areas, carried out animal pest control and maintained the tracks so other people could enjoy the area. With Allan and John now stepping back from the work, and the South Invercargill Lions Club closing, Jesse Bythell, our local QEII rep, talked about setting up a Friends of Kew Bush to carry on the good work. She said she envisaged 3 or 4 working bees a year involving a range of acitivities like planting, weed and pest control and track maintenance. If this is something you feel you could help with, please contact Jesse, [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] She will be setting up an email list to let people know when these events will be happening.
The second part of our afternoon was at Bowmans Bush, Otatara. Again in the rain we celebrated the Bowman family’s contribution through the protection of this sand dune forest remnant, with the unveiling of a sign organised by QEII National Trust. The legacy of appreciation for our native biota has shown out well and true in the grandson of Dr McDonald, who originally set this area aside. His descendent, Richard Bowman, the past Biosecurity Manager at Environment Southland, has been a wonderful supporter of the many groups involved in restoration projects around Southland. The support he had given SERN was recognised at the end of the day at the Rance’s Education Centre, where the SERN members presented Richard with a small gift.