Southland Ecological Restoration Network

Southland Ecological Restoration Network

A Network of Southland Community Conservation Projects

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

Project

July • Sherwood Forest

Thomsons Bush, Invercargill

Location:
Queens Drive, Invercargill
Region:
Invercargill
District:
ICC
Commenced:
1998
Access:
Open
Area (ha):
33
Contact:
Friends of Thomson's Bush: Judy Fotheringham
Phone:
go to fb page 'Friends of Thomsons Bush'
Email:
[Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Website:
Visit website

Description

Remnant of kahikatea and matai forest. Extensive plantings and pest plant and animal control (ivy, sycamore, elderberry, pines and possums). Walking tracks, toilet, playground and interpretation. FOTB are clearing pest plants working through the site block by block from least weedy to intensively weedy. Meet every Wednesday: 9.55am in the car park. Annual Open Day. ICC support including pest animal control. ICC removing fadges full of weeds each week (well over a 100 fadges full removed 2024-25).

Historic involvement

Various schools, Invercargill North Rotary Club.

Current involvement

Invercargill City Council, St Johns School, Friends of Thomsons Bush.

ES plantings along the Waihopai Walkway complement the restoration work by ICC and the community in Thomsons Bush .
ICC have undertaken removal of willows and cleaned out the old Waihopai channel. Flax have been planted on the cleanings.
In the south west corner St Johns School undertook restoration plantings in 2004 using mainly kohuhu and koromiko. This area was admired by the NZERN fieldtrip in 2006.
Forest and Bird work day removing Darwin's barberry 2006.
James Hargest College Environmental Group undertake planting of flax, cabbage trees, toe toe and hebe salicifolia along the west edge of Thomsons Bush. June 2011.
St John's School continue their long term association with Thomsons Bush with a planting day in May 2011.
Thomsons Bush Discovery Day January 2023: information central
Thomsons Bush Discovery Day January 2023: discovering more about the birds which could live there
Thomsons Bush Discovery Day January 2023: discovering who makes which footprint in the tracking tunnels
Thomsons Bush Discovery Day January 2023: Kaitlin (ES) shares information about some of the pests
Thomsons Bush Discovery Day January 2023: Discovering about the weeds which are in the bush
Thomsons Bush Discovery Day January 2023: the jenga are a model of the bush - how much disturbance can it cope with before collapse?
Thomsons Bush Discovery Day January 2023: so much can affect the forest!
Thomsons Bush Discovery Day January 2023: forest collapse!
2024 May. The recently reinvigorated Friends of Thomsons Bush group got in to action clearing plantings on a rainy Wednesday.
Friends of Thomsons Bush group leader, Judy, clearing ivy from the undergrowth.
2024 September. By end of 2024 FoTB had pulled out 73 fadges of ivy, with 331 volunteer hours!
Project Directory

Other projects in Invercargill

  • Anderson Park, Invercargill
  • Big Lagoon
  • Bluff Hill / Motopohue Environmental Restoration Project
  • Bowmans Bush, Otatara
  • Bushy Point Gambles, Otatara
  • Bushy Point OLG Restoration Project, Otatara
  • Bushy Point, Rances, Otatara
  • Invercargill Estuary Walkway
  • Kerr Bush, Myross Bush
  • Kew Bush, Invercargill
  • Kingswood Bush Weedbusters
  • Omaui Reserve Restoration Project
  • Oreti Totara Dune Forest
  • Otatara Scenic Reserve
  • Phillips St Reserve, Invercargill
  • Sandy Point Domain, Invercargill
  • Southland Community Nursery
  • Waihopai Dam Wetlands, Invercargill

© 2025 • 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