Ōtumahua/Quail Island Restoration Trust
The Ōtamahua/Quail Island Restoration Trust has long-term aims of restoring the island to its former ecological glory, through reforestation of the island with appropriate native plantings and repopulation of bird, insect and reptile life, as well as the preservation of historic sites and recreational use on the island.
The trust runs several volunteer weekends
in Autumn and Spring, to plant trees on
Quail Island
Supporters receive regular newsletters, an opportunity to participate in activities on the island such as tree planting, weed eradication, nursery work, monitoring the success of monitoring the success of plant and animal re-introduction.
The Ōtamahua/Quail Island Ecological Restoration Trust has planted over 40,000 trees on the island, with the helping hands of many volunteers.
Mammalian pests including rabbits, rats, mice, mustelids (stoats, ferrets and weasels) and hedgehogs have been removed from the island, to make a safe haven for birds such as tui and tomtit, and also invertebrates.
Mike Bowie of Lincoln University places
a 'weta motel' on a manuka tree to
provide a home for weta released onto
Quail Island in 2005
Fifty native ground beetles (Megadromus guerinii) and slugs (Pseudaneitea maculata) were released onto the island in April 2004. Banks Peninsula tree weta (Hemideina ricta) were transferred there in April 2005.
Quail Island is valued highly by Christchurch people as a place to visit, explore, and to learn about history and ecology - this value has now increased tenfold and will continue to grow as an education resource as the restoration project continues.
The trust holds regular planting and weed control volunteer days. In return for your labour, the ferry ride to the island and back is free.
Contact:
Ian McLennan
id.mclennan@xtra.co.nz
Ph: +64 3 384 5338
www.quailisland.org.nz