Whether people like it or not it’s time to wake up and smell the kauri, rimu or at least a humble cabbage tree.
Urban lifestyle can make residents feel disempowered when it comes to reducing their carbon footprint but some local residents have taken positive action. Located in a lifestyle subdivision off Reboubt Road, the Tiffany Bush Care group has rallied together to transform a shared patch of land into regenerating native bush. The work of these neighbours was identified as a priority by New Zealand Biodiversity because less than 2 percent of the Manukau ecological district is native forest cover. Furthermore, only 12 percent of the entire Auckland region is dotted with native bush.
Tiffany Close resident and self-confessed, frustrated housewife, Kate Smith decided to put her energy into the remnant forest around the local stream because it was overgrown with invasive weeds. Three other residents were also keen to eradicate woolly nightshade, wandering willie, moth vine and pampas grass. These weeds hinder the growth of more valuable plants and often have shallow root systems, making land vulnerable to erosion. They are poor wetland buffers, which are essential for filtering out metal pollutants and sediment.
“With 22 properties sharing ownership of the remnant bush we needed everyone’s co-operation,” says Kate. “Just by living in the area I was inspired to take action. An estimate to clear the weeds was too expensive so I applied to Auckland Regional Council’s environmental initiative fund for our first grant to start work.”
Students from Mellons Bay Primary, Owairoa Primary and Orakei Primary provided harakeke (flax), manuka, kanuka, karamu (coprosma robusta), kohuhu (pittosporum tenuifolium), ti kouka (cabbage tree) and a few kowhai to name just some species. To improve the stream’s water quality grasses carex secta, carex virgata and giant umbrella sedge were planted in wetland areas. These have provided an ideal habitat for insect life and dangle over the water’s edge supplying a food source for native freshwater fish.
These colonising species will withstand difficult conditions and attract birds, thus introducing new seed sources. Unfortunately this includes weed seeds, which is why it is important that home gardeners avoid planting known threats to native bush. Eventually taller native species such as broadleaved taraire, puriri and kohekohe, which are common canopy trees, could become interspersed with emergent podocarps such as rimu, totara, miro and kahikatea, and occasional stands of kauri.
“Tiffany Bush is great because people can see remnant bush at different stages,” says Kate. “When students visit they learn regeneration is not a quick fix. It’s about time doing its thing and the long term result.”
While many people recognise the importance of planting trees there are also the cynics who believe there is little point or there are bigger issues to worry about. However, Kate believes communities should never give up. She says protecting the land, waterways and bio-diversity are essential tasks.
Although she no longer lives in the Tiffany Bush area Kate remains involved through her roles at Trees for Survival and Wai Care, a community waterway education, monitoring and action programme operating throughout Auckland.
“We have to value children’s interest in protecting the environment,” Kate says. “More than just planting trees, the Tiffany Bush Group has a real social aspect and we work together on issues that affect the community. Recently we had a wonderful walk through the bush with 22 neighbours and supporters enjoying the rewards of their labour.”
The next generation of tree growers
Trees for Survival was initiated by Pakuranga Rotary Club in 1991 to involve school children in growing and planting native trees on designated land to prevent soil erosion, improve water quality and increase biodiversity.
National manager, David English says the organisation is now established in 144 schools nationwide, teaching students how to care for seedlings and to develop a connection with land care.
“Trees for Survival has a close relationship with ARC relying on its expertise, personnel and support,” says David. “They help eco-source native seeds, which have adapted to regional conditions as well as germinate seeds and identify at risk land. Most planting is on private land and ARC negotiates with owners to gain a commitment from them to maintain planted areas.”
Students nurture seedlings in six metre-long shade houses until the plants are ready for planting. Rotary still assists with funding for the shade houses and set-up costs. Schools are provided with up to 1200 seedlings of which 800 are to be used for planting projects and the surplus can be used as the school sees fit.
When the seasonal conditions are optimum and land is prepared students travel to sites to plant their treasured saplings. The trips make a real impression on the students, especially when they can see the progress of plantings made by previous groups.
