Autumn Planning
The summer months have been a quiet time for the Tuesday group who have met regularly each week. Weeding, mulching and site preparation at Lola Silcock Park and the Meadow Walk have been our main thrust as we prepare for a big winter’s planting. The nursery at Thornton Rd is an absolute picture and it is chokka with healthy plants just waiting for the rains to arrive before we start planting them out, principally on the Meadow Walk.
NURSERY WORK this summer has concentrated on preparing over 11,000 plants for the winter planting programme. There has been spraying, seeding, cutting propagation, weeding and potting on, and we now have a very full nursery that is an impressive sight. Leslie “green fingers “ Wood is our champion propagator and has many trays of cuttings thriving in the shade house and regularly these are re-potted for later planting out. We have appreciated the support from Waipa District Council Parks and Reserves staff in providing financial support for the purchase of potting mix.
PLANNING AHEAD.
Much discussion has taken place over the summer on two key planting projects for this winter and the Planting Plan for the Meadow Walk from WDC has given us guidance and wil,l in the main, be followed. The work of WDC staff in clearing gorse and holly from the river bank side of the Meadow Walk has been a big help for our graying volunteers. Weed eating by Correction teams and by our own members each Tuesday at the Meadow Walk has pre-released summer weed and grass growth among last winter’s plantings and revealed some pleasing survival rates despite the drought. On Stage 1 there will be another month of this work which will precede our winter planting. There will need to be some relocation of plants and some infilling where there have been failures. Gorse removal remains a challenge but is being actioned.
In Stage 2, the scarp has been grazed for the last time and gorse removal and spraying will now be undertaken. SPRAY twice, PLANT then MULCH is the intended plan for this winter.
The labour requirement for our team to plant over 10,000 natives on the Meadow Walk will be a demanding challenge, but so far I have lined up a day’s planting from the local Scouts, 4 x 4 hour planting sessions from senior students at St Peter’s School and a day’s team-building from a Waikato-based dairy farm product firm which has 18 staff. Other volunteer labour is being sought.
FUNDING for PLANNED PROJECTS
Under the guidance of Joan McCathie we continue to be very successful in gaining funding from various trusts and organizations. The Waikato River Trust has been most helpful in providing us with a solid funding base for the Meadow Walk project which is in year 2 of at least a five year plan.
The Cambridge Lions have again supported our Food Forest concept with a further $1000 for the purchase of food producing fruit trees. I am currently in positive dialogue with the marketing manager of a national food firm for further strong support for the development of other urban fruit producing areas on reserve land.
THE LOLA SILCOCK PARK ON BATH ST
We are now in the last year of this five year project and the transformation here of a weedy rubbish wilderness to grassed terraces with seats, picnic tables, paths and trails and three to four year old plants has been remarkable. It is being well used and is attracting much favourable comment.
Ongoing summer work of weed control and mulching has this area looking a picture and now there are weekly funrun/walks held through this area which is enhancing its reputation.
Further plantings of a variety of plants will be a feature of this area during winter months ahead while areas of wildflowers are being developed by two of our passionate volunteers.
Residents of Olive Grove Lane are being encouraged to clear and plant their SW facing banks and we are providing free plants from our nursery. All in all this has been a most successful project between WDC, CTT, local sponsors and residents all working as a team to produce a very pleasant river side park.
SOLDIERS TRACK AND RIVER TERRACE
The current felling of 14 large unsafe gums along this track will provide further opportunity and potential for replanting with natives. It will be a challenging area for us to work in.
LAKE TE KO UTU
This site also has its challenges for us all and we look forward to working in partnership with WDC on this area.
BULB PLANTING
We have been planting bulbs around various areas of reserve land and have just fertilised all these areas, so hopefully there will be splendid spring flower displays.
A huge thank you must go to Brain Mayo who continues to spend many hours with Corrections Department teams who use our nursery as a base and who, under Brian’s direction, undertake many small tasks, and some not so small, around our town to make it one of New Zealand’s best small towns.
2013 is shaping up to be a very productive 22nd year for the Cambridge Tree Trust and we hope that in partnership with the WDC this will continue into future years.
Don Willoughby
Chairman
Cambridge Tree Trust
Supreme Winner Trust Power Waipa Community Awards 2011
March 25 2013
