Southland Ecological Restoration Network

Southland Ecological Restoration Network

A Network of Southland Community Conservation Projects

  • Home
  • Project Directory
  • Organisations
  • Events
  • News
  • About
  • Links
  • Contact

Event

November • Rances, Bushy Point

SERN Autumn Field Day

8 May 2021

The SERN Autumn Field Day began at Kew Bush where about 40 people gathered to watch Allan McPherson and John Tait unveil the new sign at the north entrance to the bush track. Fondly referred to as ‘the boys’, Allan and John became involved in the restoration of this small forest remnant, on the grounds of Kew Hospital, in the late 1990’s. At that stage they were a part of the South Invercargill Lions Club team that used to help out by clearing the track. However these two saw that the bush needed a helping hand, as after the heavy frost of 1996 the understory was decimated and a number of weeds were taking over. With an old holly hedge along the north side of the area, this exotic had made itself very much at home, so one of the main tasks for Allan and John, with help from fellow South Invercargill Lions Club members, was to cut and drill and poison this pest plant. With a large drain being put through the bush at the time of the new Kew Hospital being built, a large area was opened up that they propagated natives to replant the area, along with the north, south and west edges where they removed weeds and then filled in with natives. Realising that seedlings weren’t naturally getting going, partly due to the presence of pest animals like possums and rats, they took on this challenge, with help from Environment Southland providing traps and poison for them to use. The walk around the track after the unveiling of the sign revealed a very different forest to what it was 20 years ago, with the work spearheaded by these two resulting in a much healthier forest remnant.

At noon we moved to the Southland Community Nursery Education Centre at Otatara, for lunch. Here Maurice Rodway, Honorary Ranger for the Oreti Totara Dune Forest, explained how this 70ha area on Oreti Rd was purchased by the national organisation, the Native Forest Restoration Trust (NFRT), last year. He told how this area, although private land, had always been a place that the people of Otatara had explored and enjoyed due to the good will of the owners. With the purchase by the NFRT, the intention is that that opportunity will continue, along with giving the totara dominant forest, shrublands and wetlands a chance to restore naturally. The more grassy areas will continue to be grazed in the short term, however the areas of forest have had no stock in them for almost a year now and already native seedlings are establishing in the understory. The local committee that helps to manage the area has organised the mowing of tracks and with assistance from a keen local a number of seats, shelters and bridges have been put in to enhance the area for recreational use. The Otatara Pestbusters have overseen the establishment of predator control lines and another committee member has helped with signage. It will be interesting to watch this area develop over time.

SERN Autumn Field Day gathering at Kew Bush
From right, John Tait and Allan McPherson, Kew Bush volunteers for two decades; Jesse Bythell, QEII Southland Rep; Ini Gunn, Friends of Kew Bush Co-ordinator.
John left and Allan stand beside the new sign recognising their many years of work in restoring the health of Kew Bush.
Standing at the west side where 'the boys' have planted natives like pittosporum to protect the kahikatea stand from the prevailing wind.
Lunchtime at the Southland Community Nursery Education Centre. Maurice Rodway talks about the Oreti Totara Dune Forest.
Dallas Bradley talks about the predator control programme that he oversees, standing in the carpark on Oreti Rd.
Maurice Rodway, Honorary Ranger for the OTDF, stands beside the interp sign at the track entrance.
Standing within the 70ha reserve, Maurice explains that in the short term there will be grazing of some of the grassy areas.
The area is home to a diverse range of birds, including the kingfisher perched on the cabbage tree at the time of our visit.
The native vine, meuhlenbeckia, is rampant throughout the area, however it will be observed and possibly cut off in places if seen necessary.
There is one large lagoon, along with a number of ephemeral wetlands. Over one hundred scaup (black teal) have been recorded here.
Under the totara canopy a number of fungi were observed, along with seedlings just emerging and plenty of totara seeds.
The effect of the prevailing salty west wind is obvious on this large totara, estimated to be over 300 years old. There are a number of mown tracks for you to follow.
QEII Rep, Jesse Bythell, stands beside a fluted matai in this grove of podocarps on the north east corner. With removal of stock from the area, seedlings are starting to establish in the understory.
The native nettle, onga onga, rarely seen in Southland Plains remnants, but best avoided as they have a severe sting. They are hosts to the native red admiral butterfly and pupae were seen on these bushes.
Intensive trapping is undertaken throughout the area for possums, mustelids and rats especially.
The visit to this high ecological value coastal totara forest was very much enjoyed by the SERN field day attendees.
Prev event
All events
Next event
Sam Gibson (at the very left) from Goodnature explaining about the Goodnature traps the Trust wants to use to eradicate pests in the forest. Trust members - from left to right - are Malcolm Mackenzie, Ken White, Agnes Irwin, Glenys Dickson, Jan Riddell.

Forest Hill Scenic Reserve

Pat and Derek in Pat's native seedling nursery.

Sherwood Forest, Tussock Creek

© 2023 • Website by RS

Our Supporters

Invercargill City Council Environment Southland Department of Conservation Forest and Bird Southland Community Nursery
  • Home
  • Project Directory
  • Organisations
  • Events
  • News
  • About
  • Links
  • Contact