TRIP REPORT : Te Marua Bush

Saturday 17 November 2007

Te Marua Bush workbee

This workbee concentrated mainly on releasing plants in the southern extension to the Bush, planted during the winters of 2006 and 2007.   Despite the rocky “soil” and exposed site, most plants have survived, and those plantd 18 months ago are emerging well through the long grass and other weeds.   The south and west borders have been planted with toetoe to form a windbreak and these are thriving and flowering already.   Greater Wellington Regional Council have removed the old fence between the original extension, older plantings and the new area, which gives good internal access within the boundary fencing.

A survey of the main Bush by Barbara, showed plenty of healthy seedlings and only a few, small patches of weed growth.   Within the older planting, a “Vigilant” paste attack was made on the persistent blackberry amongst the tree bases where grubbing is difficult.

This year we had a perfect morning to enjoy the job, unlike last year’s cold, wet, weeding day – what a difference it makes!

Participants :   Bev Abbott, Dave Holey, Chris Horne, Rodney Lewington, Cliff Mason, Barbara Mitcalfe, Sue Millar (co-leader / scribe), Glennis Sheppard, (co-leader), Darea Sherratt, Carol West.

 Saturday :   14 July 2007

Te Marua Bush workbee

After several weeks of cold, grey days and plenty of rain and wind, it was wonderful to have a perfect, fine, still morning to plant on.   When we arrived, everything was white, after a heavy frost, but it soon thawed, and everyone digging holes in the very stony “soil” soon thawed out too!

This is the second year of planting the new, southern extension of Te Marua Bush.   Last year we planted 302 trees in this new area, most of which have thriven, though we did lose 16 to a light-fingered plant fancier.   This year, with 13 willing workers, we added another 315 plants and covered the remaining area by lunch-time.

Next year, infill planting will be done as needed - we already have some small seedlings potted up, sourced from the old, heavily fruiting kahikatea in the main Bush.   These should be ready for planting in 2008.

Participants :   Kerry Brickell, Roz Brown, Barbara Clark, GW Ranger Steve Edwards, Bart Hogan, Chris Horne, GW Ranger Mark McAlpine, Rob Merrifield, Barbara Mitcalfe, Alan Perry, Reuben Tipoki, Glennis Sheppard, (co-leader), and Sue Millar (co-leader and scribe).

 Saturday :   22 April 2006

Te Marua Bush workbee

Despite a miserable day, seven people planted 72 plants to fill gaps along realigned SH2 and among the hebes from our first plantings which are more open now, forming a good light canopy for longer-lived trees to grow through.   We pruned to enable light to reach slower-growing trees.   Although we had had a dry spring and early summer, excellent growing conditions produced the large amount of growth including numerous seedlings.

We searched the area to remove various weeds - these are still at a level controllable by twice-yearly weeding.

Greater Wellington Kaitoke Ranger Mark McAlpine helped by collecting rubbish and weeds.   This was much appreciated, as several large pieces of rubbish had been blown in from the SH2 side.   Last spring, at least twelve plants were stolen because of lack of security on that side.

Participants : Mardi Hawkes, Dave Holey, Cath Mathews, Sue Millar (co-leader and scribe) Barbara Mitcalfe, Allan Sheppard, Glennis Sheppard (co-leader).

 Saturday :   22 August 2006

Te Marua Bush planting – the new extension

The long-awaited swap has happened: Transit NZ has handed over to Greater Wellington Regional Council a substantial area of land in exchange for having to use part of the eastern bush margin for realigning SH2.

The fence has been replaced along realigned SH2 and the new area at the south end has been fenced to include it in the bush.   It is roughly 60 m long, tapering north-south from 42 m to 19 m, and includes a well-grown matai and totara.

A group of 12 from WBS, Upper Hutt Forest and Bird and Greater Wellington ranger Mark McAlpine made a good start on planting this new area.   Several rows of tough, wind-resistant species were planted along the western fence to provide shelter for later plantings.   At the same time an area of mixed species was planted in the lee of the existing bush, forming a windbreak from the prevailing nor’westerly.   We made good use of a huge pile of mulch which had been left behnd.

Forest and Bird provided 222 plants and Steve Edwards, Kaitoke Regional Park ranger, provided eight larger totara, sourced from the bush, which he had been growing on at the Ranger Station.   We thank Steve and his team for preparing the site by breaking up the surface mechanically.   Since the area had been used as a work site for implements and piles of road material for several years it was badly compacted and hand digging would have been extremely difficult.

We hope for a good growing season to establish the beginnings of this extension of Te Marua Bush.   Everything has been well watered-in since planting!

Paticipants : Bev Abbott, Glen Fitzgerald, Bryan Halliday, Bart Hogan, Dave Holey, Chris Horne, Rodney Lewington, GWRC Ranger Mark McAlpine, Lisa Marshall, Barbara Mitcalfe, Sue Millar (leader / scribe).   Apology: Glennis Sheppard.

 Saturday :   18 November 2006

Te Marua Bush workbee

Six people braved the wet, windy day for to plant 85 plants into the puddles and mud in the recently enclosed new area of Te Marua Bush.   At least 16 of these were replacements for others stolen since our planting on 12 August this year.   The south end had more of the hardy mix of toetoe, karamu, manuka and kanuka planted to form some wind protection before we plant again here in 2007.   Plants put in during the August workbee have established well, and grass and weeds were cleared from around them.   This is much the latest planting we have done in the Upper Hutt area – usually we have to stop planting in September, but an unusually long, wet, autumn / winter / spring has enabled us to extend our planting season this year.

Participants : GWRC Kaitoke Ranger Steve Edwards, Chris Horne, Sue Millar, (co-leader / scribe), Barbara Mitcalfe, Allan Sheppard, Glennis Sheppard, (co-leader).