News

Going for gold!

The Waikawa Catchment Group is very passionate about their local river and have undertaken a range of projects recently to protect and enhance the special local values. Erosion mitigation work is being undertaken as part of the Integrated Catchment Management Plan (a living, aspirational document prepared by the wider catchment community along with stakeholders like the Waikawa Catchment Group). Analysis to understand erosion risk and mitigation options was carried out by Land and Water Science and 7 case-study projects are currently being completed which aim to mitigate erosion in the catchment. This work is funded by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and supported by Environment Southland.

One project site is at the old ‘Dog Dosing Strip’ alongside Manse Road, a streatch of river not too far from Mangai Piri | Niagara Falls. Planting was undertaken along a portion of the stream on 5 May to help link remnants of kōwhai-ribbonwood forest, which is an originally rare ecosystem in the area and much reduced today. There a lot of potential to restore this catchment and a lot of eagerness in the community to stuck in.

Posted on: Friday, 30 May 2025

Kōwhai Reach planting day with Limehills School

Kōwhai Reach has a brighter future thanks to the extra love it’s been getting! A portion of the fence was moved some distance from the stream edge and locally suitable native plants were planted to help increase buffering and habitat for future kōwhai trees. Many of the trees along the Reach are centuries old, but with little opportunity for new seedlings to establish in the dense grass over time one by one the old trees die and there is a risk of no new trees to replace them.

The planting day was whole team effort both in the lead up and on the day with many hands making things run smoothly. On 7 May Limehills School ‘Team Kōwhai’ students planted 520 plants in 2 hours with help from parents and teachers, QEII, local landowners Charleen and Chris Withy and ES Biodiversity Team staff. Additional support for this project comes from Southland District Council, KCC, Otatara Landcare Group, Southland Community Nursery, and Reforest Southland. Thanks also to the Southland Times for their write-up on the day.

Posted on: Wednesday, 21 May 2025

Friends of Kew Bush workday and interpretation board unveiling

Another good turnout and job done on 15 March at Kew Bush.

Followed by unveiling of the new heritage interpretation board on the history of the hospital and site - and Friends of Kew Bush started by Allan McPherson.

Head to Kew Bush for a guided walk on 25th March to be led by Jesse Bythell (QEII rep).

Posted on: Thursday, 20 March 2025

Open Day at Thomsons Bush

Thank you to all those who helped Thomsons Bush become a better place. I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and had enough to eat.

24 people came to our Open Day on March 1st. A great mix of young and not so young.

12 fadges and 6 bags full today and this first block of the forest has been cleared of ivy, checking for seedlings next and then on to the barberry!

Thank you to ICC and Rob for the food and use of the BBQ!

Posted on: Tuesday, 4 March 2025

Matuku Muster Highlights 2024

Wendy Ambury has sent out the highlights and next steps from her wonderful Love Bittern Project. She visited us in mid November and gave an inspiring talk about what we can do to help Matuku Hurepo. For more information on the whole project go to the website here. Highlights poster attached.

Sadly, the Awarua Wetlands were extensively burned in January. This is bittern habitat (& home to many other species of concern). Warren Heslip was fighting the fire when he caught sight of a bittern doing its freezing pose (see photo).

We don’t have a lot of current records for bittern - do keep recording (iNaturalst, eBirds, LoveBittern or DOC) any you hear or see. Head to the World Wetlands Day event on 23rd Feb for some more information on habitat creation and management for these magnificent birds (details here).

Posted on: Thursday, 13 February 2025