Riverlea celebrates nature
The Riverlea Environment Society is hosting a community fun day in Hammond Park to celebrate the effort going into improving Hamilton’s most biodiverse bush remnant.
There will be experts available to talk about weed and pest control, nature awareness activities for children, and guided walks through the bush, for which gumboots are advisable.
People can bring along any mystery weeds to be identified. Children can also have their face painted and meet characters Woody Weed and Peka the Bat.
In conjunction with Hamilton City Council and the Waikato Regional Council, the Riverlea Environment Society and local people have been waging a war in Hammond Park on weeds, possums and rats, and undertaking restoration planting to help protect this special place.
‘‘The only reason this bush wasn’t cleared is because it was too steep and swampy for farmers to clear and farm,’’ says society president Anne Ferrier-Watson.
‘‘As a result we have this single hectare of incredible bush, including rare swamp maire trees festooned with epiphytic plants, and even long-tailed bats.
‘‘There’s only 20 hectares of original native bush in all of Hamilton, so this is a very significant area.’’
The bush is tucked between the households of Riverlea and the Waikato River, and boasts a sandy beach and boardwalk.
Under the guidance of Hamilton City Council, society volunteers take part in monthly working bees to release the stranglehold that weeds like jasmine and Tradescantia have on some of the native trees.
‘‘It’s actually a great work out,’’ says regular volunteer and committee member Andrea Graves.
‘‘Winter months are when we get to plant trees, but it’s vital to control weeds on an ongoing basis, otherwise all our hard work is undone.’’
The Riverlea group supports the Predator Free movement, and undertakes pest control along with Hamilton City Council.
It has recently applied to Predator Free New Zealand to become a Kiwibank Predator Free community. This would fund equipment and advice to enable Riverlea residents to carry out significant community-wide pest control.
To celebrate and explore this hidden gem at the fun day, on Saturday, October 29, from 1pm3.30pm, the group asks you register your attendance at www.resi.org.nz/community