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STOP item for June 2017 Newsletter

STOP News

STOP is currently co-ordinating the 2017 planting at one of the two catchment planting sites on either side of the Hereweka Harbour Cone Block. The Smiths Creek Catchment stretches from Bacon St in Turnbulls Bay to Highcliff Road below Hereweka Harbour Cone. Working bees are every Tuesday and Sunday morning and we are always looking for more volunteers. We are particularly interested to make contact with groups that would like a day or half day planting. Contact person: Lala, lala.frazer@gmail.com or text 027 8756 020.

Photo (attached). Hayward College students helping with the first planting of the season.

This year’s planting – along a ridge on one of the tributaries – is a continuation of the Hereweka Harbour Cone Trust Project started in 2016 along the sides of Smiths Creek, funded under the national “Trees That Count” Scheme. Not only will the survival of each plant be monitored for the next five years, but the growth rate will also be measured to give an indication of how fast different native species grow. A significant area of the planting includes an ephemeral wetland and appropriate species have been planted there.

The trees planted by Broad Bay School will be incorporated into the project, giving them an opportunity to measure the success and growth of the plants they grew themselves.

STOP also has regular working bees on other sites ranging from a DOC Scientific Reserve, to a wetland site and a dune site, as well as the bush remnants fenced off on the side of the Portobello Peninsula and the Memorial Seat in Broad Bay. Committee meetings open to all members are held at 7.30pm on the first Tuesday of each month, at the Meeting Room behind the Broad Bay Community Centre.