Today we revisited
the Red Zone to help out with restoration with Dr. Colin Meurk and Scott Butcher
from the Avon Otakoro Network. This group was formed in 2015 and does
ecological work in the Red Zone by trying to establish a forest park and other
vegetation that would’ve existed in this area historically.
The site that we went to is leased to them by the government for about 5 years. This short amount of time makes it hard to do restoration, but the goal is to plant enough natives that eventually the land becomes self-sustaining and there needs to be minimal intervention from the group. They hope that with all the new planting, native forest birds like the Kereru, fantail, and Tui will hopefully come flooding back. In fact, there were several fierce fantails fluttering round our site as we were working, possibly being a positive omen for the future of this land.
As with most of the sites that we have been completing restoration on, Dr. Meurk reminded us that the central idea for these ecological corridors is to create a stepping stones throughout the city that will provide native wildlife habitat while coexisting with people. The Red Zone is heavily mowed, which encourage the growth of weeds and discourages the growth of native seedlings, and Dr. Meurk estimated that mowing costs about 1-2 million dollars a year. In the end, we ended up planting over 105 native species. This includes coprosma, lancewood, and even some baby totora!
After stopping for some lunch, we headed on to our next destination. On the way, Dr. Meurk stopped by a river filled with Canadian Geese and other waterfowl. He stopped by a tree with lichen growing on it and let us all try out his handy pocket magnifying glass. He told us about how blue-green aglae fixate nitrogen and that we should all put that small magnifier on our shopping list.
We then went on over to the Avebury House and met with Tanya the keeper of the house. This large Victorian House used to be owned by the Flesher Family back in the 1850s but is now used as a sort of Community Center. Yoga classes, workshops, and various clubs use this space harmoniously. The house has been threatened many times to be torn down, but the community always assembles and saves it.
The house also has a community garden that is maintained weekly by citizens of the town and many of the food is either donated or sold. We walked through the native garden, called Koru Garden. It is named after the Maori word for loop or coil, represented by an unfurling silver fern frond. The unfurling fern is a symbol of rebirth, growth, and strength. In fact, a small part of the garden is planted in the shape of a spiral and circulates around a large wooden carving of a fern. Dr. Meurk walked us through the forested part of the garden which is home to large native trees like the totora, lemonwood, and kauri tree. He told us that the canopy cover of the larger trees provides the perfect space for their seedlings to grow. In fact, we stumbled upon two small totora seedlings just beginning their climb towards the sky.
After saying goodbye to Dr. Meurk and the Avebury House, we piled into the Gator Waka and had teatime at a C4. Tomorrow starts our free weekend in Queenstown, but we will be back on Monday to explore more of the Canterbury region. - Tatiana
The site that we went to is leased to them by the government for about 5 years. This short amount of time makes it hard to do restoration, but the goal is to plant enough natives that eventually the land becomes self-sustaining and there needs to be minimal intervention from the group. They hope that with all the new planting, native forest birds like the Kereru, fantail, and Tui will hopefully come flooding back. In fact, there were several fierce fantails fluttering round our site as we were working, possibly being a positive omen for the future of this land.
As with most of the sites that we have been completing restoration on, Dr. Meurk reminded us that the central idea for these ecological corridors is to create a stepping stones throughout the city that will provide native wildlife habitat while coexisting with people. The Red Zone is heavily mowed, which encourage the growth of weeds and discourages the growth of native seedlings, and Dr. Meurk estimated that mowing costs about 1-2 million dollars a year. In the end, we ended up planting over 105 native species. This includes coprosma, lancewood, and even some baby totora!
After stopping for some lunch, we headed on to our next destination. On the way, Dr. Meurk stopped by a river filled with Canadian Geese and other waterfowl. He stopped by a tree with lichen growing on it and let us all try out his handy pocket magnifying glass. He told us about how blue-green aglae fixate nitrogen and that we should all put that small magnifier on our shopping list.
We then went on over to the Avebury House and met with Tanya the keeper of the house. This large Victorian House used to be owned by the Flesher Family back in the 1850s but is now used as a sort of Community Center. Yoga classes, workshops, and various clubs use this space harmoniously. The house has been threatened many times to be torn down, but the community always assembles and saves it.
The house also has a community garden that is maintained weekly by citizens of the town and many of the food is either donated or sold. We walked through the native garden, called Koru Garden. It is named after the Maori word for loop or coil, represented by an unfurling silver fern frond. The unfurling fern is a symbol of rebirth, growth, and strength. In fact, a small part of the garden is planted in the shape of a spiral and circulates around a large wooden carving of a fern. Dr. Meurk walked us through the forested part of the garden which is home to large native trees like the totora, lemonwood, and kauri tree. He told us that the canopy cover of the larger trees provides the perfect space for their seedlings to grow. In fact, we stumbled upon two small totora seedlings just beginning their climb towards the sky.
After saying goodbye to Dr. Meurk and the Avebury House, we piled into the Gator Waka and had teatime at a C4. Tomorrow starts our free weekend in Queenstown, but we will be back on Monday to explore more of the Canterbury region. - Tatiana
Dr. Colin Meurk and the group at the Red Zone
Planting natives and helping to restore the Red Zone
Taking a peak at some lichen growing on this tree
The group at Avebury House
A portion of the community garden at Avebury House that will be donated
The group and Dr. Meurk at the Koru Garden
Learning about the native trees that provide canopy cover to seedlings in the Koru Garden
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