Diary these Dates
February
- 20th - The Three Cities Crossing - Saturday morning - Good Fitness Guided Walk; free, but bookings required
- 27th - Tree Care - on Saturday morning
March
- 14th - Human Birds Programme 1 - Seed collection and preparation - Sunday morning - Moderate Fitness; small charge, bookings required
- 27th - The Real Cannons Creek - Saturday morning - Easy Fitness Guided Walk; free, but bookings required
- 28th - Human Birds Programme 2 - Making seedballs - Sunday morning - small charge, bookings required
May or June
Current Activities
- Summer - Tree Care Programme [ More … ]
- Summer - Guided Walks - Free [ More … ]
- Human Birds Programme [ More … ]
Summer Tree Care
Inserting a white-tipped bamboo marker stake to help find the new seedling amongst future grass and weed growth.
It already has a cardboard collar to reduce weeds and retain soil moisture,
and a plastic hare protector so it's not a tasty tidbit for rabbits and hares.
In gardening terms, tree care means weeding, staking and mulching, pruning - particularly those trees planted in the last 2 years.
Next dates:
- Saturday 27th February at 9.30am - 12 noon
Just as your flowers and vegetable plants need regular attention by weeding, staking and mulching, so the young trees in the "Long Garden" (Maara Roa) cannot just be planted and abandoned.
The Tree Care Programme for Maara Roa means visiting every tree planted in the last 2 years:
- assessing its health
- applying or removing the hare protectors (which prevent hares and rabbits eating and killing the seedlings)
- applying cardboard collars (that help prevent weed growth around the seedling, and keep moisture in the soil)
- inserting or removing white-tipped bamboo marker stakes (used to find seedlings among future grass and weed growth)
- applying a support stake to trees on exposed windy slopes
- removing support stakes once the trees are established
We even prune back the tree lucerne, our rapid-growing exotic shelter crop, to reduce the likelihood of wind damage and to keep it in control.
This work is carried out in summer, autumn and spring, while planting is carried out in the winter and early spring only.
And the more Tree Care we do, the better the survival rate of our young trees.
Where: Volunteers meet at Brandon Intermediate School, Driver Crescent, Porirua at 9.30am and down tools at 12.30pm.
The school gates are locked while we are working, so park on the street if you arrive later or want to leave before 12.45pm.
What to wear and bring:
- bring your favourite secateurs, pruning saw, or lopper if you have one
- if you don't have any tools, please come anyway, as we have some tools you can use
- if you wear work gloves, bring those
- you may need a jacket (wind-breaker)
- sturdy shoes/boots or gumboots (it can be muddy)
- Morning Tea provided
Summer Guided Walks
All walks are free events. Bookings are essential.
Please phone Sylvia Jenkin on (04) 237 4760.
What to bring: a backpack with a waterproof jacket, water, snacks, sunblock. Wear tramping boots or strong lace-up shoes, use sunblock and a sunhat.
Saturday 20th February: 9.30am - 1pm - The Three Cities Crossing - a new walk - Good fitness
From Wellington to Hutt to Porirua in 3½ hours on foot! This hilly hike with the Friends of Maara Roa guides will surprise you with great views and a big vision.
Meet at: Takapu Road Entrance to Belmont Regional Park.
Getting there: Exit SH1 at Grenada North and follow Takapu Road to the end.
Saturday 27th March: 10am to 12 noon - The Real Cannons Creek - human impact on the stream - Easy fitness
Follow the course of the stream with the Friends of Maara Roa guides, hear its history and view the human impact from Maori times to today. Harakeke (flax) weaving demonstration, bush restoration.
Meet at: Cannons Creek Entrance to Belmont Regional Park. Suitable for families.
Getting there: Exit SH1 at Mungavin interchange, Porirua City, and follow Champion St for about 2km, to the Cannons Creek entrance to Belmont Regional Park, next to the Cannons Creek Shopping Centre. Regular train and bus services to and from Porirua Railway Station connect to Cannons Creek Shopping Centre.
Extra information is
- on these maps of the area and routes, as well as
- more background information about guided walks.
Human Birds Programme - a 3-step Forest Restoration event
Help spread the good seed of our forests - just like the birds.
Thanks to the pioneering work of the Kiwi Conservation Club in this region, we now know that restoration of difficult areas can be hastened by throwing seedballs - imitating the birds who are New Zealand's main regenerators of the forest.
This 3-step event is for anyone (adults and kids) who would like to learn about this method, for use not only at Maara Roa, but in other restoration projects.
Participants need to book for all three steps:
- seed collecting and preparation
- making seedballs
- throwing the seedballs
There will be a small charge for costs.
Extra information about the whole programme can be found in on our Human Birds webpage, or our Human Birds leaflet (PDF file 160Kb) which you can print off for yourself.
Sunday 14th March: 9.30am - 12.30pm - Human Birds Programme 1 - Seed collection and preparation - Moderate fitness
Today we learn how to collect and prepare seeds of native trees; on 28th March we make seedballs; then in May/June we have fun throwing the seedballs.
Meet at: Cannons Creek Entrance to Belmont Regional Park. Suitable for families.
Getting there: Exit SH1 at Mungavin interchange, Porirua City, and follow Champion St for about 2km, to the Cannons Creek entrance to Belmont Regional Park, next to the Cannons Creek Shopping Centre. Regular train and bus services to and from Porirua Railway Station connect to Cannons Creek Shopping Centre.
What to Bring: Secateurs, clip-top plastic bags, labels, pen.
What to Wear/bring: a backpack with a waterproof jacket, water, snacks, sunblock. Wear tramping boots or strong lace-up shoes, use sunblock and a sunhat.
Sunday 28th March: 9.30am - 12.30pm - Human Birds Programme 2 - Making seedballs
Use collected seeds of native trees and make seedballs; then in May/June we have fun throwing the seedballs.
More details: To be advised.
Sometime in May or June: - Human Birds Programme 3 - Throwing seedballs
On a day in May or June (date to be advised) we'll have fun throwing the seedballs into difficult areas.
More details: To be advised.
Other Weekday Options
Can't come on Saturdays, but free during the week?
During Winter plantings, and Spring & Summer tree care, we think there may be many folk who could come on a Tuesday or Thursday, weekly or fortnightly, and give a few hours.
Are you retired, a part-time worker or not in employment, a parent with time while children are at kindy or school?
We would like to create a group of people like you to plant during the week.
Want to offer to help? Get in contact with Coordinator Sylvia, at ph. (04) 237.4760 or sylvan@actrix.co.nz.