Sutherlands Puriri Reserve
This large Forest & Bird reserve is rather special, as its original (unlogged) and has a huge diversity of plant species, currently only threatened by pest plants. It has a strong connection to iwi with its Maori Food Pits which are an interesting story in themselves.
We’ve been tackling Tradescantia (tradescantia fluminensis) at Sutherlands Puriri Reserve in Turakina Valley before it spreads further and wipes out all small plant communities and seedlings of the forest floor. In early May we set out to spray identified ‘patches’ of Tradescantia only to discover there was more than we could manage, so we’ve come up with a new plan for long-term control.
This includes introducing more bio-control agents i.e., yellow smut fungus. We’ll also be advocating for deer control as it’s obvious feral deer (an increasing pest species at this reserve) are moving tiny Tradescantia fragments across the reserve as they get caught in their cloven hoofs and end up elsewhere.
We’ll be taking a small team of workers armed with knapsacks & herbicide and start at the outer reaches of the patches and work their way in and will walk the tracks looking for small fragments of Tradescantia and removing them as humans can be as guilty as the feral deer in moving pest plants from one place to another.
If you’d like to learn more about the Forest & Bird Rangitikei Branch or be involved in future working bees, you can contact the reserve manager Michael on 027 443 3908 or via rangitikei.branch@forestandbird.org.nz
If you’d like to visit and explore this reserve, learn more about getting there and what to expect on the Forest & Bird website.
Koitiata Wetland
This wetland is sited at Turakina Beach just beyond the township and behind the fore dunes, and a shallow lake which is home to a large number of birds throughout the year.
We’re contracted to provide services to Koitiata Wetland Restoration Project, led by Jo Anson. We control pest plants that threaten to invade the wetland itself. This includes Pampas Grass and spraying invasive willows. Remote drone operation allows us to reach areas we wouldn’t be able to otherwise.
Koitiata Wetland
This wetland is sited at Turakina Beach just beyond the township and behind the fore dunes, and a shallow lake which is home to a large number of birds throughout the year.
We’re contracted to provide services to Koitiata Wetland Restoration Project, led by Jo Anson. We control pest plants that threaten to invade the wetland itself. This includes Pampas Grass and spraying invasive willows. Remote drone operation allows us to reach areas we wouldn’t be able to otherwise.
Supporting biodiversity across our district
Other worksites include the Forest & Bird reserves in the Rangitīkei, Papakai Reserve, Mount Stewart, Greystoke Reserve, Paegaroa Reserve at Mataroa, Memorial Park, Taihape Reserves, Boshers Bush Taihape, Ngawaka Bush.
We’ve also been involved in riparian planting projects at Porotiana Stream: Springvale Station, Waiwhakapoua Stream & Pokopoko Stream: Mangaohane, Owhakaora Stream: Erewhon, Namunui Stream Mataroa and Wetland retirement lower Kawhatau.
Want a helping hand on your land?
Protecting our natural environment is a community effort. If you’d like to discuss contracting us to control pest plants on your property or if you have a larger project you’d like our assistance with, please get in touch with us.