Conservation Week kicks off

Date:  13 September 2010

Conservation Week “kicked off” on Sunday with events held by the Whinray Ecological Charitable Trust (WECT) and the Women’s Native Tree Project Trust (WNTPT).

WECT held a working bee event involving tree planting and plant releasing within the predator proof kiwi crèche. The kiwi crèche was established by the Trust to restore the kiwi population into the Whinray Scenic Reserve. The “hearty” group braved the drizzly rain to continue what has now been a four year planting project with still a long way to go.

“The crèche was established in February 2006, and we have been planting trees since then” says WECT Chairman Graeme Rylott. “The Trust has raised five chicks in the last four years with female chick Kohu being the recent release earlier this year. Three years ago two of our males, Roly and Tom had to be put back in the crèche after being released when a ferret threatened their survival in the Whinray Scenic Reserve”.

Mr Rylott says the WECT hopes to get more kiwi into the crèche next year.

“The trees will take some time to grow but eventually it will become a forest habitat ideal for the kiwi. In fact as we were digging up the dirt to plant trees there were lots of grubs and worms in the soil - ideal Kiwi food” says Mr Rylott.

Following the WECT event, the Women’s Native Tree Project Trust (WNTPT) held a planting event on Kaiti Hill.

A stunning view over the sunny Gisborne District made work light planting over 200 plants in areas cleared by Weedbusters.

“Conservation Week is about encouraging New Zealanders to show how much they love this country and is an opportune time to learn about the awesome conservation work being achieved by community groups in our region” says Community Relations Ranger Trudi Ngawhare. “These community groups voluntarily work to preserve and restore natural environments for the benefit of our native species and for the community. We are lucky in the Wairoa, Gisborne and East Coast regions to have our natural and historic heritage right on our back door steps, what better opportunity to get out enjoy, protect and get involved.”

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