Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves

Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves

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Welcome to the Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves web site

The Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves Inc. is a local community group formed to promote and enhance the conservation and long term preservation of bush reserves situated in the Tawa Basin and to liaise with the Wellington City Council to achieve these aims.

The bush gave Tawa its name.   It is a valuable part of our heritage and important in improving the natural environment of the whole of Wellington City.

Active management is critical for the viability and long term survival of the remaining forest remnants.

Member Involvement   -   WORKING-BEES

Regular weekend working-bees are planned on the 2nd Sunday afternoon of each month, commencing at 1.30 p.m.   A mid-week working-bee is also held on the 4th Tuesday afternoon of each month, commencing at 1.30 p.m.   Members are invited to participate in these activities to improve the public access tracks, to undertake tree planting, weeding around planted trees, or pest plant removal.

The next weekend working-bee is scheduled for Sunday 10th August, 1.30 – 4 p.m.  
The objective of this working-bee is tree planting at lower Woodburn Reserve.   Please meet at bottom of Woodburn Drive intersection with Takapu Road.
Recommended to bring - boots, gloves, spade and clothing appropriate to the weather.
For further information please contact Richard Herbert, Phone 232 6828.

The next mid-week working-bee is scheduled for Tuesday 26th August, 1.30 – 4 p.m.
The objective of this working-bee is to continue tree planting in the vicinity of Woodburn Reserve.   Please meet at bottom of Woodburn Drive intersection with Takapu Road.
Recommended to bring - boots, gloves, spade and clothing appropriate to the weather.
For further information please contact Norm Robertson, Phone 232 6359.

Member Involvement   -   AT HOME

Become a Weedbuster!   “Weedbusters!” is a new programme launched in New Zealand in October 2003 to educate and raise awareness about weeds.

Home Nursery.   Members of the Friends are growing-on trees for replanting into the bush reserves around Tawa.   We wish to concentrate on the planting of the heritage species not readily sourced through the Council nursery due to slow growth rates but that were once common place in the Tawa bush areas; e.g. matai, miro, rimu, kahikatea, pukatea, southern rata and of course, tawa.   Unfortunately these trees can take up to fives years before they are of a suitable size for planting out into the bush and existing nursery ground space available to the friends is at a premium.   Therefore if you live in the Tawa locality and have some spare backyard ground space in a shady situation and are prepared to monitor the trees and occasionally water them during extended dry periods, we would like to hear from you.

We would also like to recycle your used cardboard milk containers.   We find these to be an easy to use alternative to plastic planter nursery pots.   If you have any to donate please phone Damian on 232 3079 to arrange collection.

Member Involvement   -   WCC SUBMISSIONS

During 2006 submissions are expected to be sought by the WCC on the following :

• The Long Term Community Plan (LTCP) - submissions closed 12 May 2006
• A proposed new Northern Reserves Cluster Management Plan (covering the remaining area of Tawa not included in the Outer Green Belt Management Plan) - initial discussion document submissions closed July 2004.   Further submissions expected to be made later in 2006.
• An Open Access Plan (Track Plan) - Implementation Plan.   Workshops held with Council in May. Approval by strategy Committee expected in June 2006.

The Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves has provided input to Council on the following policy documents :

The “Northern Growth management Plan Framework” and associated “Implementation Plan”, published May 2004.
The “Outer Green Belt Management Plan”, published in 2004.
The “Open Space Access Plan”, aka “Track Plan”, published in 2004.
The “Pest Management Plan”, published in 2004.

Read our July “Tawa Bush Telegraph” newsletter here - or to download Word document format click here.

Tawa’s Memorial Trees - Are you aware of any Memorial or Commemorative trees planted in Tawa.   We would like to know about more of these.   Read about them here.

Wellington Community Groups - The Wellington region has a large number of local community environmental care groups that foster the care of a specific area under the guidance of the local council.   Why not contact your local group and get involved, meet great people and make a difference!   Find your local group here.

Gardeners - are you aware that you may have plants growing in your garden that are considered pests and can be harmful to our environment?   Dispose of your weeds wisely.   Read further here. There are 13 pest plants targeted for eradication from the Wellington region that are being progressively highlighted in issues of the "Elements" newspaper from Greater Wellington.   Reprints of the articles so far published up to the June issue may be seen here. Check out the pest plants included in the Greater Wellington Regional Pest Control Strategy here.

Birds of Tawa - Arthur Carman records of the Tawa of pioneering times, “The forest was full of native birds, and all the pioneers have commented on the clouds of green parakeets and pigeons.”
Have you seen any unusual birds around the native bush reserves of Tawa lately?   Help us update the reserves bird species list.