Archive for March, 2011

STEPS Plans for Upper Meola Creek 2011

March 28th, 2011

 STEPS met with Auckland Council Officers, contractors, Waicare and Morphum people for our third annual planting and maintenance meeting on 17 February 2011. Minutes are attached – thanks to Taryn Pearce for co-ordinating.   We also thank in particular Melissa Marler for volunteering to lead and co-ordinate a weeding group (thanks to Sel Arbuckle for assisting.). Melissa will also use her experience to help educate the contractors as the Downer team are not yet so familiar with the area as were former contractors Alldrains. We are pleased with the commitment and support Council officers are showing and thank in particular David Bowden for involving Conservation New Zealand Volunteers and assisting with tracking tunnels.   

This year we are planning limited expansion of existing planting areas – mainly infill planting where plants have been lost. Instead the focus is on managing the new plantings, and especially removing weeds. If not dealt with, Kikuyu, moth plant and woolly nightshade are major threats to this beautiful volcanic streamside landscape we are restoring. These problems occur not only in the plantings but seeds are borne by wind and water from neighbouring properties.   

We are willing to train volunteers to help remove weeds, and educate people about this problem so please contact us via this website if you are able to help us. 

STEPS Planning Meeting Minutes_2011-02-17

Woolly nightshade. Solanum mauritianum Photo: Carolyn Lew

Moth plant / cruel vine (Araujia sericifera)

New Signs on Meola Boardwalk

March 28th, 2011

STEPS thanks the Auckland Council for providing and installing informative signs on the boardwalk in February 2011. The signs cover the history of the areas, the natural landscape, community planting and other topics.

The boardwalk continues to be well used by a range of people including school pupils, young families, local residents from Mt Albert, Sandringham and St Lukes area, and the signs will enrich the understanding of us all. We need volunteers for planting and weeding, monitoring and protecting wildlife and the creek, trapping pests, or community patrols. Please contact STEPS via this site if you want to be more involved.

 

 

Councillor Fletcher visits Meola Wetland

March 28th, 2011

Councillor Christine Fletcher joined Pat, Nick, Trevor, Virginia, Gina, Stella and Liz to walk the boardwalk and review progress with planting the spring-fed STEPS wetland. We thank Councillor Fletcher for her time and her interest.

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