North Canterbury News: September 19, 2019

NEWS
20 The North Canterbury News, September 19, 2019
Work on Ashley River
along labour of love
By SHELLEY TOPP
The Ashley­Rakahuri RivercareGroup
is reflecting on 20 years of voluntary
environmental protection work on the
river.
Its efforts, supported by the
community, have led to an increase in
breedingpopulations of braided­river
birdsonthe Ashley­Rakahuri River,
whereas most other South Island rivers
are not faring as well.
This success was recognised
internationally last year, when the
groupwon the Australasian Wildlife
ManagementSociety annualaward for
practical wildlife management, andin
2010 whenitwon the Canterbury­
Aoraki Conservation Award.
The group’s members say their
success has beendependent on good
public awarenessand support from the
Waimakariri community, service
groups and land management decisionmakers.
Trapping predatorsisthe group’s
predominant field activity,for which
many volunteersare needed.
‘‘We havewelcomedincreased
recognition, leading to morevolunteers
offering to maintainasignificant
extension of ourtrap lines,’’ trapping
co­ordinator PeterWhitehead says.
Support from localbusinesses has
also playedanimportant role, with
donations of materials, rangingfrom
bait to trap­making materials, plus
ongoing financial supportfrom the
group’s onlysponsor, Karikaas Natural
Dairy ProductsinLoburn.
Alongsidepredator control, weed
invasion remains aconsiderable
challenge. To thisend, members have
beenworking with Environment
Canterburyand the Department of
Conservationtoresearch bestpractice
to control the spread of riverbedweeds.
Also, the Rangiora­based gravel
extractors Taggarts Earthmoving Ltd
haveshown thateven large­scale
shingleextraction can benefitthe river,
as it creates weed­free areasthe birds
musthave for successful breeding.
It is hopedaresearchprojectthis
yearinto the weedproblemwill
eventually prove useful New Zealandwide.
Four­wheel­drive activity on the
riverbed remains aproblem in trying to
keepthe birdssafe, withsome serious
breaches of the Wildlife Act occurring
lastyear.
‘‘The groupworkswith ECan to
advise and restrictriverbed vehicle
access during the nestingseason
(September to February),but ultimately
it is only publicacceptance of the need
to eliminate thisdisturbance that will
see this threat removed,’’the group’s
chairman,Nick Ledgard, says.
Lastyear, ashort film, Rakahuri
Rescue,was madetodescribe the work
doneonthe river. It can be seen on the
group’s website,arrg.org.nz.
Show continues to bloom
By DAVID HILL
The Woodend Community
Centre will be in full bloom
next month.
Flowers, daffodils,floral
art and othercreative items
will be on display for the
87th annual Woodend
Spring FlowerShow on
Saturday, October 5.
Project manager Lyanne
Wheeler says the show
keepsgrowing, as the
organisers try new things
each year.‘‘Entriesare
increasing by 200 to 300
everyyear,’’ she says.
This year’s show is no
exception, with anovice
daffodil competition added.
Floral Art North
Canterbury will also be
holding afloral art
exhibition in conjunction
with the show.
Last year, pre­school
classes were successfully
added, which means
childrenofall ages can
enter, Lyanne says.
Thereare also classes for
baking, fruitand
vegetables, preserves,
handcrafts,photography
and ablokes­onlysection.
Men can enterthree
cooked burgerpatties,
something ‘‘madeofmetal’’,
Showy ... Winning daffodil
blooms at last year’s
Woodend Spring Flower
Show.
PHOTO: FILE
a‘‘bloke’s sandwich’’, or a
floralarrangement in a
gumboot.
‘‘My husband was not
keen to enter last year, but
he did andwon the ‘made of
metal’class. He was
thrilled.’’
Lyannesays the show was
originallystarted by local
farmers’ wives 87 years ago,
but is now run by the
Woodend Garden Cluband
the Woodend Lions.
Younger membersare
neededtoensurethe show
survives beyond its 100th
birthday, she says.
‘‘Most of the ladiesare
80­odd or very senior,soI
put my hand up to handle
the emails and the
technology.’’
Entriesclose at 8pm on
Thursday, October 3, and
can be emailed to
lyannewheeler@gmail.com
or phone Helen Poweron
(03) 313 5749.
Children are encouraged
to register for acraft day at
the Woodend Community
Centre from 10am to 12pm
on Wednesday,October 2,
to prepare their entries.
Email Lyanne or phone Val
Cotton on (03)313 8410.
Aschedule is available
on the Woodend Spring
Flower Show Facebook
page or the website
woodendspringflowershow
.weebly.com.
Entriescan be dropped at
the community centre
between5pm and 9pm on
Friday,October 4, or by
10am on the day of the
show, ready for judging.
The showwillbeopen to
the public from 1pm to 4pm
on October 5. There is no
charge for entries, but there
is a$2admissionfee for
adults,with children free.
count applies tothe first 50 litres. Minimum spend applies when stacking at
participating Caltex stations. See Caltex.co.nz/Pumped for terms and conditions.