We have been involved with a volunteer project in Manapouri under the umbrella of the Waiau Trust for a number of years. Our friend Edith is the driving force behind this project and each year, usually on the 2nd Saturday of April, a number of natives are planted at Home Creek, with an activity arranged for the afternoon. In the past we have visited eco-homes, wetlands and other places of interest.
So it was on a cold miserable Saturday morning last week that we headed down to Home Creek, along with about 15 other volunteers, to plant the 300 natives that Edith had sourced from Pukurau Nurseries. This year there were just 3 species: flax, mingimingi (coprosma propinqua) and corokia cotoneaster.
This is a very challenging site as it is both exposed and has very poor soils. In the past some of the plantings have not been successful and it is alway disappointing to return the following year only to find that many of the plants put in the previous year have died. Edith has narrowed her plant selection to only the very hardy and finally we are beginning to see some success. This is the first year when many of us have noticed just how much some of the plantings are coming away.
Home Creek is a good place to visit at any time to take a stroll. Being just 1km east of Manapouri on the road to Tuatapere, it is easy to find and the 40 minute walk takes you along both sides of Home Creek which meanders through the reserve.
Our afternoon project was to do some spraying at the Wildness Reserve, on the road into TeAnau, but this was abandoned because of the conditions. Some chose to do a walk along the Waiau River at Rainbow Reach, while Stephen and I retreated to the bus for a rest. Before we headed back to Manapouri to share a meal with Edith and Rances we called into to see a pizza oven that an Invercargill couple had built on their lifestyle block. (Of course Stephen is still working on our one and is alway keen to see what others have done.) All in all a very good day.
So it was on a cold miserable Saturday morning last week that we headed down to Home Creek, along with about 15 other volunteers, to plant the 300 natives that Edith had sourced from Pukurau Nurseries. This year there were just 3 species: flax, mingimingi (coprosma propinqua) and corokia cotoneaster.
This is a very challenging site as it is both exposed and has very poor soils. In the past some of the plantings have not been successful and it is alway disappointing to return the following year only to find that many of the plants put in the previous year have died. Edith has narrowed her plant selection to only the very hardy and finally we are beginning to see some success. This is the first year when many of us have noticed just how much some of the plantings are coming away.
Home Creek is a good place to visit at any time to take a stroll. Being just 1km east of Manapouri on the road to Tuatapere, it is easy to find and the 40 minute walk takes you along both sides of Home Creek which meanders through the reserve.
Our afternoon project was to do some spraying at the Wildness Reserve, on the road into TeAnau, but this was abandoned because of the conditions. Some chose to do a walk along the Waiau River at Rainbow Reach, while Stephen and I retreated to the bus for a rest. Before we headed back to Manapouri to share a meal with Edith and Rances we called into to see a pizza oven that an Invercargill couple had built on their lifestyle block. (Of course Stephen is still working on our one and is alway keen to see what others have done.) All in all a very good day.
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