Friends of Te Waoku Kahikatea Reserve
Styx Living Laboratory Trust managed by Volunteering Canterbury
Want to be a part of restoring a significant piece of nature in the Pūharakekenui-Styx catchment?
Te Waoku Kahikatea Reserve - located at 303 Radcliffe Road - is an 11-hectare planted native forest that supports a high diversity of eco-sourced native plant species, invertebrates, waterbirds and an increasing populations of native bush birds.
Planting began at the site back in 2010, and the reserve has now matured to a stage where we can now begin establishing understorey species like ferns and climbers, and also plants that require a more sheltered microclimate or protection from harsh frosts.
But it’s not all about planting. Although most of what we see in the reserve is a thriving native forest that is larger that Pūtaringamotu-Riccarton Bush, if we look closer, we can see that the reserve is also suffering from weed invasion - most notably woody weeds and ivy. So, part of our job will be helping the Regional Park Rangers get on top on some of these problems so that the native forest ecosystem can continue to thrive and provide a place for both wildlife and people.
When?
11 am - 1 pm first Saturday of every month
What?
Tasks will vary throughout the year, and depending on the season, but will include such things as:
Enrichment planting of understorey species, plants requiring sheltered conditions, and planting of previously unplanted areas.
Control of woody weeds and ivy.
Forest measurement and monitoring.
Wildlife surveys using various techniques.
Forming, maintaining and managing nature trails through maturing forest.
Implementing various small projects.
We’ll supply all the gear – you just bring yourselves (and something for a shared lunch).
Who?
You! This group is open to anyone to join, no-matter what your age, interests or background. The Styx Living Laboratory Trust was set up to foster research and learning associated with the natural environment of the Pūharakekenui-Styx catchment. So, if you know nothing at all about the natural environment, then that’s fine – that’s part of why we’re doing this. Or if you have a PhD in forest ecology, that’s fine also.
The group will be led by Dr Antony Shadbolt, who leads Councils Parks Biodiversity Team and by Council’s Regional Parks Rangers. We’ll be regularly joined by other experts like ornithologists, ecologists, forest scientists throughout the year.