Gorge Gazette” has news about native bush restoration in Ngaio Gorge, Trelissick Park and downstream to the sea.

Toi toi in Trelissick Park

Read the November issue of Gorge Gazette

As the weather gets warmer, the plants and trees in Orleans-Makererua Reserve are getting active.  If you just walk along the track it looks much the same from one week to the next. But if you look carefully, you will see that a lot is happening…

Read more on our Green Scene blog…

Spring growth

Its 20 years since community volunteers banded together to help rescue Trelissick Park from years of neglect.

Long term park campaigner, Frances Lee, features in this WCC news release.

Bells Track from the start of the track

Bell’s Track winds its way up to the skyline walkway from the end of Awarua St, Ngaio. For several years a group of keen volunteers has been restoring the bush along the way.

On Sunday 5 December,  Des Smith is giving a short talk about the restoration project – the bush, weed control and wildlife.  Then he will take a guided walk up the track.  The walk and talk will take about an hour.

Meet at Bell’s Track, at the top of Awarua St, Ngaio, at 11:00 am.  All welcome.

Trelissick Park, a reserve at the bottom of Wellington’s Ngaio Gorge, had a fish ladder to help fish swim upstream to breed.

A big rock slide dramatically changed the landscape recently. It came down where the Kaiwharawhara meets the Korimako stream.

The fish ladder is no more. However, it isn’t needed. Fish can now use the new rock slide to reach the Kaiwharawhara.

Rockfall blocks fish ladder, Trelissick Park

The area is unstable.  No doubt the large amount of rock and mud in the stream will move downstream with more rain.

Have a walk through Trelissick Park and see the slip for yourself.  A signpost marks a short track to the fish ladder.

Residents working in local parks, reserves and green places are dismayed to find plastic bags of dog poo dropped

• under bushes
• beside tracks
• at  park entrances  -  particularly Trelissick Park
• on road reserves
• under the ornamental grasses in Khandallah Road.

Dog poo bags hidden in Trelissick Park

What are dog owners thinking when they leave their pets’ litter?  Who do they think will remove it?  Council?  Other dog owners? Volunteers?

Ngaio Progressive Association believes dog owners should take poo bags home and dispose of the contents.

If dog owners believe that it is someone else’s responsibility, then they should be brave enough, forthright enough and assertive enough to discuss this in an open forum. Ring Council, write a letter to the editor or start a blog – but for heavens sake don’t expect volunteers who work hard to fundraise, plant and maintain our green open spaces to dispose of your dog poo.

Makererua - Heke St steps July 2010

The steps between  Makererua and Heke  Streets in Ngaio are now open again.   They have a new hand rail, a very smart gutter, and a new pathway at the bottom.

The Pukatea Track starts at the  bottom of the steps and takes you  to Orleans Street in about 10 minutes.  Look out for the pukatea tree.

Planters in action, 2010

View upstream

A dog's view

Nearly finished

Ngaio Progressive Association had another working bee behind the Playcentre on Silverstream Road recently.

Armed with spades and grubbers, we planted out 100 shrubs from Wellington City Council in a couple of hours.

We planted shrubs that enjoy growing beside streams – such as flaxes, kowhai, wineberry.  Closer to the Huntleigh Park bushline we planted long term species such as  rimu, rewarewa, tawa.

We found a few bottles, car parts and an escaped kangaroo (which we lobbed back into the Playcentre.)

Earlier planting bees

This was our 5th planting bee.  Our first was in 2006.  It’s great to see that the akeake and olearia  are growing well.  Many shrubs we planted earlier struggled with rank grass and, in turn, over enthusiastic weed cutting.

Do you know where this is?

Do you know where this reserve is? What about going to have a look? The entrance is off Orleans Street.

Entrance to Orleans Reserve

The Pukatea Track goes from Orleans St Reserve to Makererua St. It takes about 10 minutes.

Makererua St steps closed for repairs

The walkway at the end of Makererua St leading up to Heke Street is having a make-over.

Contractors are building new steps and installing a new handrail. The path at the bottom of the steps will also get some attention.

The walkway will reopen on 15 May – all going well.