Report for September 2018

Liaison: 1 hr; Monitoring: 2 hrs Weed-control: 7.5hrs
YTD: 34.5 hrs liaison and research; 53.5 hrs monitoring and documentation; 79 hrs of weed control; Total : 167hrs

Kikuyu has begun to grow again with the warmer weather, but has not yet been sufficient for "self-mulching by pullback".

In the Arena, Blackberry and honeysuckle roots continue to reveal themselves where not mulched, and have been either pulled out or mulched depending on soil conditions and their root strength. They are shortly to be uncovered throughout and assessed for either cutting/digging out, or ongoing rotting by mulching, depending on how they are found to be doing with current measures.

Weeds found and removed during the month include seedlings of privet, tree privet, climbing asparagus, Kahili ginger, cotoneaster, brush wattle, a few more previously hidden runners of honeysuckle under the manuka/kanuka, and a previously missed stems of Common ivy still at the stage of creeping on the ground..

The tree privets have had their new shoots plucked off (a 1-minute operation covered both trees) and branches bent down further where they have weakened.

A 3mH cotoneaster found under the manuka/kanuka canopy is to be ring-barked shortly.

There has been ongoing uprooting or mulching of Watsonia under the canopy throughout, and of Montbretia in the Arena.

Seedheads of Sonchus oleraceus from local grass berms (exotic but often referred to as "puha") have been scattered throughout the bared sun-exposed areas to help diversify the transitional plant community. It provides a little shade and soil stabilization, helps shelter native seedlings from wind, sun, animal interference and trampling, is very easy to remove if necessary, and when no longer needed becomes scant but nutritious mulch.

Wild carrot seed will be similarly collected and sown as soon as it matures. Seeds of one found in the Domain Rd end of the forest margin in winter were similarly strewn here, but may have been insufficiently mature.

A specimen of the indigenous "Esler's Weed", or Senecio Eslerii, was found near the Ngaio in the Domain Rd margin of the forest, and is being watched with the hope of collecting mature seed from it in due course. A native ragwort groundsel would make an excellent diversifier and habitat-creator!

https://inaturalist.nz/observations/17041763

Auckland Council is providing 24 hours of assistance by an experienced restorationist and contractor, to support the restoration of Gahnia Grove and such extension as we judge to be sustainable with the total volunteer long-term commitment of 2 hours weed-control a week.

Kaipatiki Project's Restoration Manager has confirmed that KP's overall planning of restoration of the margins of Eskdale Forest in the clearings and along Domain Rd and Glenfield Rd would be supported by Gahnia Grove being extended downhill through the canopy as far as the next clearing, and towards Domain Rd as far as the two Flame Trees which are to be removed. Weed control under the canopy avoids exposing an increased area to the risk of new or increased weed invasion, and will provide some weed material to be used as a protective barrier along the outer margins.

Maintaining the additional margin to the Flame Tree will require ongoing contractor assistance due to the uncertain contours and the amount of earth that could be exposed by controlling the present honeysuckle and blackberry.

Planting of quick-growing trees such as kanuka and karamu is likely to be beneficial on this margin, to establish shade as quickly as possible.

The slippage of that bank, once further revealed by the weed control to be started this month, will require further assessment after weed removal, as it may require stabilisation and/or fencing of the walkway at that point.

Annexe - Accidental vehicular interference?

The shrub/tree weed-pile on the outer edge of the Annexe has been eliminated, and some fine grass clippings introduced, along with two wide wheel ruts a metre or two into the Annexe, one of the ruts about 10cm deep.

The pampas mulch of the previously mown grass in the Annexe has been displaced, and the total volume of mulch seems to be less, so maybe the pampas mulch somehow got shredded in the same manner as the introduced shredded grass.

We are looking forward to a replacement mulch-pile to use as a border to the annexe, allowing ongoing restoration of native revegetation by clarifying the boundary for contractors and Reserve users.

Posted on October 6, 2018 03:59 AM by kaipatiki_naturewatch