Current Events
WEEDS
We are continually working away at our plant pests. Gorse, Montbretia, Convolvulus, Blackwoods and Blackberry, to name a few.
With the help of Chris we have done a second knockdown of the Alder trees growing out into the swamp from a neighbour’s property.
This time we will make sure they don’t come back.
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New Solar Panels on Visitor Centre
Community Planting August 2020
Nelson Branch of Forest and Bird booked the Lodge for the weekend of 1st August and said they wanted a job to do. Several pine trees had recently been removed by the drain bridge and huge piles of mulch were left on that corner.
What an opportunity to do a bit of planting to enhance the area.
Forecast for the allotted day was for pouring rain but fortunately it cleared and we planted 190 native plants around the edges of the clearing and mulched them very thoroughly.
A very successful project to help the community in this area.
New Porch for Visitor Lodge
A new porch has been built to provide shelter when entering the Lodge in bad weather.
Coats and boots can now be removed and stored outside to avoid mud and water being taken inside.
the Lodge kitchen is now all electric
A major upgrade to our power supply was completed in June 2019.
To reduce fire risk, we have removed the old gas cooker and replaced it with a new electric oven.
We hope you will enjoy the ease and convenience of this improvement.
New Track renamed
Just 12 months after completing a new track (see below) the name has been changed from Wattle Point to Matai Point.
This is in keeping with the status of the Wattle tree (Acacia melanoxylon) as a weed which is being eradicated and the recent replacement with several new plantings of our native Matai (Prumnopitys taxifolia).
You can read more about Matai here
https://tinyurl.com/Mataidetails-1
Golden Bay Kiwi Conservation Club (KCC) 2018 Planting
On the weekend of 16th June a group of Golden Bay Conservation Kids and their parents from Forest and Bird helped to plant Matai trees at Wattle point.
They planted 50 young Matai trees, so we can now feel confident to call Wattle Point , Matai point.
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New Wattle Point Track
21st November 2017:
After John and Bron toiled away over the past 2 months preparing the new track to Wattle Point, a group of us worked together to fill it with gravel. As you can see the final result is very pleasing.
You can now walk down through the swampy area to the bush track along the edge of the swamp where you will hear many Fern Bird making their distinctive clicking sound and if you are lucky you will hear Bittern booming and even the sharp squeek call of a Spotless Crake.
Golden Bay Kiwi Conservation Club (KCC)
The first step in turning Wattle Point into Matai Point.
Before and After Photos
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SOLAR PANELS
Thanks to Robyn and the Native Forest Restoration Trust (who shared the cost) we now have 10 Solar Panels on the roof of the Visitor Centre.
They can pump out 3000 Watts when in full sun. The inverter is inside the Visitor Centre and the amount they are making can be seen on the display.
We look forward to lower electricity bills as a result.
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Mangarakau Drain Bridge improvements
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Lodge Porch before alterations
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Upgrade to Electricity Supply
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Matai Tree Plantings
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More photos on the Gallery page.
Click on first photo to start a slideshow.
http://mangarakauswamp.com/gallery
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Tree Planting
On 4th June 2017, 25 Children and 20 parents of the Golden Bay Kiwi Conservation Club planted 9 large Matai trees and 70 mixed natives at Matai Grove.
The weather turned cold and wet but not a grizzle was heard.
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