gills reserve - Forest and Bird

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Emailing of newsletter From the November issue all those who have an email recorded with F&B will receive Habitat by email instead of post. This will save considerably on resources, post and delivery. If you are on the email list and still wish to receive Habitat by post please contact membership@forestandbird.org.nz AUGUST – DECEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER OF THE ROYAL FOREST AND BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY TIAKI TAIAO, NORTH SHORE BRANCH GILLS RESERVE On February 27, eleven of us explored Gills Reserve, Albany. It has been my practice to teach the correct Maori pronunciation of our native plants, after 50 years of hearing kauri mispronounced cowree, tawa with long vowels sounds instead of short ones and totara called toetra. So when someone on this trip wanted to know what hangehange was, I said, ‘The first syllable is short and pronounced like hung; the second and last syllables are pronounced e as in egg, and of course the g is soft.’ For those who don’t know, a in Maori is pronounced ‘uh’ as in cup; i is pronounced ‘ee’ as in sleep; o is ‘or’ as in more; u is ‘oo’ as in soon. So totara is pronounced ‘tor-tuh-ruh’ with slightly more stress on the first syllable. Our exploration began by crossing the Gills Rd one-way bridge, then strolling down the true right of Waikahikatea Stream. We admired the waterfall downstream which was flowing well for late February. Flattened vegetation was observed Hangehange about 2m higher than the current water level on the banks: evidence of flooding from Cyclone Wilma a month before. Jasmine, Japanese honeysuckle, phoenix palm and woolly nightshade were noted. There were many hawthorn trees in fruit. Hawthorn is a surveillance pest plant in the Auckland region. We climbed up a fairly steep west-facing grassy slope to re-enter the bush which includes mature rewarewa, puriri, karaka, tanekaha and taraire, with smaller tawa, kauri, miro and white maire. Higher up we found kanuka, common tree daisy, mapou, hangehange, kumerahou, toru and toropapa (Alseuosmia macrophylla)). A single large totara is worth checking out. Richard identified a large-leaved whiteywood (Melicytus macrophyllus) about 2.5m high. This species grows up to 6m. Its leaves are more robust than mahoe/whiteywood (Melicytus ramiflorus). The former is found between North Auckland and the Waikato, as well as locally near Dunedin. Auckland Botanical Society members call this species ‘Melly mac – the widest part of the leaf is distal to the half way point with coarser serrations than Melicytus ramiflorus, minimal teeth near stem, and the leaves tends to be waxier. – Margi Keys THANKS We sincerely thank: Don Turner of Takana Nursery, for donating 12 large-grade native trees to the Tuff Crater project. www.takana.co.nz OUR NOLA Milford resident Nola Ovens, a keen Forest & Bird member since 2000 and an amateur photographer since the 1960s, was a star in May's Nature for Action (Nola captures North Shore nature, on page 6), for recording 80 local bush walks of various lengths she has done since June 2007. Her work consists of seven large folders of photos and trip reports, complete with the names of exotic and native plants she has seen on the walks. Thank you for creating such a wonderful record, Nola! MILLENNIUM FOREST UPDATE It was a good summer. The 2010 plantings, beside the grassy path going up to the Canon walkway, have survived well and grown a lot. Occasionally we have been through the area weeding gorse, eleagnus regrowth and the odd moth plant, but the heavy layer of mulch that was put down has helped to keep the area free of weeds. Some plants have needed staking. Visitors to the area will have noticed that we have been preparing the area just below the pond for infill planting. Over the years, some plants have died and this winter will be a good time to replant the gaps. Workers have been through weeding out moth plant and privet seedlings and the edges have all been sprayed to control kikuyu grass. Our next big push is weeding out privet seedlings in other parts of the forest as well. They are certainly very hardy and keep popping up everywhere. They are easier to remove when small. Several groups from local businesses have volunteered to help out on their community work day. Long may this initiative last. Workplaces allocating a day for their staff to get out into the community for a day’s labour have made a big difference. We are going to run Thursday morning working bees at Tuff Crater. See timetable on the What's On page for details. – Anne Denny Send newsletter contributions to Margi Keys, PO Box 33873, Takapuna or email makeys@nettel.net.nz Habitat is printed on 100% recycled supreme paper conforming to the highest environmental standards.
logo lines have been developed to ensure consistent n of the Forest & Bird brand. Please refer to lines when applying the brand to any advertising ications material. ignature. Royal It is unique. Forest It and identifies Bird Protection the Forest & Bird Society brand. Tiaki It must Taiao, North Shore Branch a consistent PO Box 33-873, manner. Takapuna, This will New preserve Zealand | the www.forestandbird.org.nz integrity of the brand. | northshore.branch@forestandbird.org.nz s of the The logo Committee and how 2011it should appear in different situations are cument. RICHARD HURSTHOUSE Chair richard.hursthouse@xtra.co.nz 410 5339 ALAN EMMERSON Immediate past chair emmo66@xtra.co.nz 473 2216 JOCELYN SANDERS Secretary jocsanders@vodafone.co.nz 479 2107 RAY SIMPSON Treasurer ray.simpson@clear.net.nz 486 6875 LIZ ANSTEY Committee - media lizanstey@hotmail.com 480 1545 ANNE DENNY Committee - Tuff Crater annedenny@xtra.co.nz 480 5570 021 121 4610 CEDRIC HAY Committee 410 5977 MARGI KEYS Committee - Habitat editor makeys@nettel.net.nz 443 6919 0274 481 581 SARAH NOBLE Committee - funding Sarah-Noble@hotmail.com 475 6338 CLAIRE STEVENS Committee - history claire.stevens@xtra.co.nz 419 1233 KAREN WEALLEANS Committee - guest speakers karen@changingspaces.co.nz 410 1995 HELENE WILLIS Committee - membership willis24@xtra.co.nz 480 8851 logo artwork is available electronically. Please use this artwork. reate the logo. d is composed of three parts: the tree symbol, the logotype and a line. There are three compositions available for use. ion should be used where possible. Where layout constraints andscape or portrait versions may be used. NEWSLETTER EDITOR MARGI KEYS, email: makeys@nettel.net.nz BIRD RESCUE SYLVIA 478 8819 If you are concerned about conservation issues in your area, please contact Richard or Alan. Primary composition of the Forest & Bird logo, this option is the preferred composition. Secondary composition of the Forest & Bird logo NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH SHORE BRANCH ROYAL FOREST AND BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY Portrait composition of the Forest & Bird logo TIEKE, OR NORTH ISLAND SADDLEBACK, THE NORTH SHORE BRANCH EMBLEM
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