July ecology newsletter

Hello!

We have a few events coming up over the next few weeks. On Thursday 18th July we will be hosting a school holiday activity at Wainoni Park and on Tuesday 23rd July we are having our mid winter mix and mingle Greenhithe Ecology Network meeting where we’ll learn about how we can become more sustainable at home. There will also be the opportunity to discuss pest control in your backyard. Further information about these events can be found below.

Volunteers at Wainoni Park have carried out more planting, this time along the stream near the bridge. Over the coming months they will continue to plant more native plants, at times with the assistance of Greenhithe Primary School and other community groups. On Sunday 18th August, there will be a community wide planting event.

Did you know there is an active neighbourhood support network in Greenhithe? Join now to receive regular updates on what is happening in your community.

Hope to see you soon!
Nicola

It was great to help students from Greenhithe Primary and Upper Harbour Primary, participate in the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey Students enjoyed the event and it was great to see additional learning on native birds had been carried out by some students prior to the survey. It was interesting to see the number and variety of birds was higher at Upper Harbour Primary which is next to a bush reserve and near water (stormwater pond and Te Wharau Creek). This is the second year the school’s have participated in the annual event.

Weed of the Month

Tradescantia fluminensis is also known as wandering willie. It is a declared pest plant by Auckland Council. If it’s not controlled it can quickly form a dense carpet across the ground smothering native plants and preventing regeneration of native species. Fragments can easily break off and these can quickly set roots, spreading along the ground.

There are several methods of controlling this plant. You can rake or hand pull the plant and place all fragments in dark weed bags for several months so it decomposes. Fragments should not be exposed to the light or else they will sprout roots and keep growing. The site will need to be revisited several times. Alternatively it can be sprayed.

For more information on controlling this plant go to the Auckland Council Pest Plant website. Images above are from the Auckland Council Pest Plant website.