The summer months have been a busy time for the Tuesday group who have met regularly each week. The themes of CONSOLIDATION, PLANNING and PLANT PREPARATION have been to the fore in our weekly work. 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 around Cambridge. Our aim this winter is to complete as many projects that have been on going for a few years as we possibly can. Our Tuesday group reaches 14 on our best days and we would welcome others to join us.
NURSERY WORK this summer has concentrated on preparing plants for the winter planting programme. There has been seeding, cuttings propagation, weeding and potting on, of cheap end of season purchases from local nurseries last winter and we now have a very full nursery that is an impressive example of what volunteers can do to change the local environment. Last spring we received a grant from Forest and Bird which enabled us to purchase six heat pads and propagation trays. After an hour long November lesson from David Varcoe of the WDC Parks and Garden Department on propagation by cutting, members have been busy producing 100s of plants from cuttings with varying success. Well rooted cuttings have been potted up with delight by our members over many Tuesdays this summer. Our expertise in this area is being shared and it will be a great saving in years to come.
PLANNING.
There have been many positive meetings between the Tree Trust and the WDC Parks and Gardens Department as we plan for 2010. There has been some restructuring among WDC staff under the new CEO and Don Willoughby is now the CTT spokesperson with the WDC staff and works through Max Ward. A Memorandum of Understanding is shortly to be signed to ensure this new arrangement is formalized. The WDC have been presented with an in depth list of the projects which we hope to compete this year and there is excellent and developing co-operation in this partnership to improve the environment of Cambridge.
FUNDING for PLANNED PROJECTS which are listed below;
Under the guidance of Joan we have been very successful in the last six months in gaining funding from various trusts and organisations. Examples of this are $5000 from Fonterra for the Bath St project, $1000 from the Dr George Marshall Trust for the Lola Silcock terrace project and $1000 from the Greenwood Trust for purchasing ferns to be planted adjacent to the new flow form steps
BATH ST.
This is a 3 year project and stage one last year was the clearance and tidying of the river terraces below the service centre and the Warehouse. The area was placed in grass and throughout summer John Davies has sprayed regularly to control weed growth and any shooting of roots, branches from willows and silver poplars.
CTT met on site in late September and we compiled draft plan ideas with help of an enlarged aerial photograph of the site from John Dillon/Max Ward. Notes and ideas were recorded on this and the draft development plan was then passed to WDC staff for their input and contribution. WDC have agreed with our planting plans.
Phase two now swings into operation this year. The CTT has accepted a track construction price from Paul Garland Construction and work will start on this mid April. It was re-emphasised that no terraces be built by CTT and that WDC be responsible for overseeing this track development.
Once some decent rain arrives we will move into planting parts of this area. Fonterra through Marjo Ermens leader of their Environmental team will assist with the planting when we start as will the local residents. It is intended to have a least one public planting day so look out for our media publicity on this and join us with your spades. Long term the area will be largely in lawn with quite separate areas to be identified as requiring specific low plants. Views of the Waikato River will be a feature of this new track.
CTT has applied to WDC for the top terrace above the Bath St extension to be developed and possibly named in memory of our recently deceased life member Lola Silcock and we are awaiting a response from the Community Board. Through Paul Garland and John Davies six truckloads of topsoil have been dumped for FREE on this terrace and now need to be spread. Much of this terrace is to remain in lawn and have some seats on the edge.
It is an exciting project so please join us when you can.
RIVERVIEW (at end of Shakespeare St above the Kauri Grove). Our planting here with the assistance of Correction Department teams has been a 2009 success story. There has been incredible positive public feedback. 2010 will see completion of infill planting here, maintenance like weed control and pruning and further spreading of autumn leaves and chipped mulch
The difficult area of mid bank needs to be planted this winter.
RIVER TERRACE. This area below 31 Shakespeare St will be one of the major development projects in 2010. Already some preparatory work has been done with the dumping of subsoil and topsoil, leaves and mulched wood chips by WDC. We are working with Council staff on plans for this area and more topsoil is soon to be dumped there and the whole area regraded. Then planting can start with the river view preserved. Lawn and seats are also proposed.
SAFFRON SWALE. This area is looking great and the track put in by WDC has been a major success. We have on-going infill planting, maintenance and weed control in this area to be done in 2010. We will replant with ONLY those species which have so far survived there. Council will drop some loads of topsoil there for us to allow LARGE planting holes to be prepared for these major trees.
OAK ARBORETUM. Replacement of dead oaks and continuation of the Saffron Swale walking/cycling track through to the Cambridge High School are tasks that the WDC should undertake ASAP.
LAKE TE KO UTU. This winter we will assist WDC staff with replanting the banks of this park. We still have 50 camellias in our nursery for this. Some topsoil will have to be provided by Council to allow any plantings here to survive.
Planting of the area around the new steps in the flow form area has been planned with plants waiting in the nursery and this may be a task for PD under Brianís supervision. We now have funding for ferns and a source area for these is being investigated.
POETS TRACK. John Davies and Paul Garland have spent some time and effort in investigating a possible new track mid bank to bypass the slips and enable this popular walking and running track to be reopened. This would then enable us to continue planting along Pope Terrace below the weed mat. With the major slip now cutting this track below the high bridge a reassessment has been made of this track and John has walked it with Max and had discussions on a possible solution to come out opposite the gymnasium. This will proceed in July once Council funding becomes available.
HORSE GRAZING SHADE TREES.
Discussions in early Feb. with Max Ward and property supervisors has led to a planting plan for areas along Dillon St, Lamb St and Roto-o-rangi Roads. $10,000 has been allocated from the Community Board to buy the timber for such a plan and John has done much work on pricing this. It is suggested that this planting proceed with a small group such as John, Roger, Bruce and Don to plant and build surrounds at the same time and this to be done outside Tuesday working bees. We have written a letter to the Community Board thanking them and asking for a change in money allocation from Payne Park to Green Belt. (Letter 19 March. Copy on file)
In the Riding for Disabled part of Green Belt the timber for structures around shade trees will be provided by Sir Patrick Hogan. A generous offer. CTT needs to meet with RD people to discuss what trees and where.
MAGNOLIA GROVE. The replanting of this area with low natives is ongoing with the first stage completed and looking good. Just a little touching up is needed in this area to complete it.
DOMINION AVE.
Replicate the Pope Terrace planting at the top of the bank opposite the skate board bowl.
STREET PLANTING. The majority of the planting of large trees as discussed between CTT and Rob Sinclair in 2009 has been competed. We still have many large oak trees in our nursery which require a home in 2010. Any ideas??
SEDDON TRACK/KARAPIRO STREAM TERRACES. There are still well over 150 oaks in the CTT nursery and John Davies is anxious to establish an oak dell in this area once a WDC decision has been made on privet spraying.
DAFFODIL PLANTING. The planting of 9000 bulbs around Cambridge last year (with Christmas Festival funding) had brilliant spring impact and we have heavily fertilised these so there should be an even better show next year. Permission has been granted to continue this planting programme. We just need to keep Council staff in the loop. PAYNE PARK OAK ARBORETUM This has been completed and last year over fifty oaks were planted in this area and protected by stock proof surrounds.
FUTURE PROJECTS.
Meadow walks??
Assist the BMX committee with a planting programme around their new track??
Cemetery planting of large trees??
Excess to our needs, we have 150 unusual oaks trees which we have been growing on for over four years. If you require any of them please contact us.
2009 was a very productive year for the Cambridge Tree Trust and we hope that in partnership with the WDC this will continue in 2010. Please get involved in some of the many projects that will be ongoing this year
