Chairman's Report, 2019.
Congratulations and thanks to you all for having survived a rather chaotic year under a very green chairman,
Firstly, I must thank Conny for the massive amount of work that she undertakes on our behalf as Secretary.
Thanks to Joan for an equally large workload raising funds, running the nursery and keeping us all fed and watered.
Thanks also to the Moodies- Jane for her inspirational articles on trees, and John for attempting to guide me through the Chairman's duties; and for time spent revising our Constitution.
Thanks to Greg, our Treaurer, for his patience and diligence,
Lastly, thank you all for your support and hard work throughout the year.
After a number of years of intensive planting, our focus for 2019 has had to be on the maintenance of our 26 existing projects. However, we have still managed to complete a number of plantings.
The Resthaven scheme has been finished after 4 years of development. This year saw 690 plants go into the Moon Spring project and the gardens below the villas.
At Karapiro, The National Canoe Centre plantings were begun, with Stages 1 & 2 completed, and Stage 3 to be prepared and planted in the New Year.
Payne Park bush extension has had more infil planting and is beginning to mature.
Smaller schemes include the Thornton Club, Leamington Park railway tunnel, Riverview infill and a small garden at a local preschool.
We had two very successful days supporting climate change awareness, which gave us much positive publicity, as did our involvement in the award to Cambridge as the Most Beatiful Large Town in NZ.
Ongoing maintenance on large projects such as the Oak Arboretum, Meadow Walk, the Maple Arboretum and Lola Sicock Park have been challenging but rewarding. Many thanks go to Neville for his huge input.
Special mention must be made of the Thursday maintenance team. Their hard labour has transformed the Rimu and Kahikatea groves, and their laughter will echo around Cambridge for some time.
Plans for the coming year are under discussion and will possibly include infil planting of the swale in Brian Mayo Park. Further additions to the swale depend on out discussions with Council. Karapiro Stage 3 will be completed, and improvements to our base structures are being considered. Park seats will be installed in the Oak and Maple Arboreta. This work is made possible by our sound financial position.
Many thanks to you all.
Eric Todd,
Chairman.
