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Dear Friends,
2009 has been an unusual year in that it started with the high expectations that we would conclude the next major task in our quest to build a predator proof fence to protect the Bream Head Scenic Reserve.
Unfortunately, the kind gentleman who has offered to lodge the resource consent on our behalf has been out of the country for several months and this has delayed the process. This left me feeling very frustrated - until I looked back through the year at the actual achievements, which I would like to share with you.
In February the preparation for the winter planting was done. This involved spraying a large area of kikuyu grass behind the Smugglers Cove sand dunes, all the work carried out by Nigel Miller and Wendy Holland who are the DoC representatives on our Restoration Committee. Wendy had previously collected all the seed from within the Reserve to maintain plant provenance, and passed it on to the Kerikeri Shade House for propagation.
Knowing that there was not a lot more we could do towards “the fence” in this economic climate, in March we asked DoC to identify an area within the Reserve which we could focus on that would benefit from intensive trapping and poisoning. Nigel started work on this on our behalf.
In April Wendy was successful with her Community Conservation Grant application, receiving $3000 to cover the costs of propagating our winter plantings for 2009 and 2010.
In May Jane Barr joined our Restoration Committee. Jane has taken over from David Monro as registrar for our Friends of the Bream Head Restoration Project and its data base. David had acted as registrar since the data base was first set up in August 2002. You will be hearing from Jane in relation to your subscriptions.
June saw us carry out our annual planting at Smugglers Cove, possibly our most successful yet in terms of the number of Friends who turned out to do the work. 4000 seedlings were planted. Thank you all for coming along to help. This was a difficult area to plant because of the strong coastal exposure and planting in sand. A storm the following week gave the seedling a really hard time and many have not survived. Wendy and Nigel will be revising our planting methods and be seeking expert advise to ensure that the best outcomes are obtained in future plantings in that area.
July: We asked Samara Nicholas of Experience Marine Reserves (an educational group associated with the Mountains to the Sea Trust) if she would hold a snorkelling day at Smugglers as part of our Summer Programme, and she has agreed. We will advertise this field day in more detail when things have been finalised. The Bream Head Conservation Trust is providing the funding.
August: Wendy Holland and Maureen Young (an Auckland botanist) described what is believed to be the largest grove of Parapara (Pisonia brunoniana - the bird catching tree) anywhere in New Zealand. The population was originally found by Nigel Miller and it is right here in the Reserve. Over 200 mature and immature trees were recorded.
September saw the Friends Colin Edwards and his team merry men and women start work on the regular maintenance of the newly upgraded tracks at the Smugglers Cove end of the Reserve. A couple of Ocean Beach Friends (who prefer to remain anonymous*) have offered to help maintain the Peach Cove track too. This essential work will help extend the life of these excellent public assets.
In October we assisted DoC with the official track opening which started with a blessing of three ceremonial stones, one at each of the public entrances to the Reserve. Local Iwi were represented, and expressed warmly a desire to share this precious area with everyone; the whole event had a good feeling about it. DoC staff had done a great job of organising everything and the guided walks over the tracks were well attended too.
November has the exciting prospect of us taking on our first paid ranger for the Reserve. Initially it will be a temporary 40 hour per week position provided we can obtain sufficient funding. We will keep you posted on developments with respect to this.
Over the next few weeks we are running a Summer Programme. Events include:
1. A Public Talk by Ben Barr, herpetologist (a person who studies lizards) from the Department of Conservation. Mr Barr’s talk and slide show will last for about 30 minutes and will cover a background to N.Z. lizards, conservation issues with lizards, what lizards were present at Bream Head, what lizards are currently found there, and the future prospects for lizards at Bream Head. Trustees and Restoration Committee members will be there and a cup of tea and biscuits will be provided.
When? Wednesday 25 November 2009
Where? McLeod Bay Hall
Time? 7.30 pm
2. Snorkelling Day, Smugglers Cove, 20 February 2010 - details will be advertised when they have been finalised.
3. Photographing Nature - a proposed day long workshop at the Bream Head Scenic Reserve for participating photographers, experienced and new, keen to share their skills and learn more about nature photography. Again, details will be advertised when they have been finalised.
Finally, I want to thank you all for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at these events; and from all the team at the Bream Head Conservation Trust we wish you a safe and happy Christmas and New Year
Geoff Pike
Trustee, and Restoration Committee Chairperson.
* P.S. Geoff Pike and Colin Cook (D. Monro, editor)
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