( Food and refreshments provided free. )

Please RSVP by Wednesday 13th October
Gay Munro, ph 03 239 5827 4igmunro@thenet.net.nz
or Chris Rance, ph 03 213 1161 rances@es.co.nz.

PROGRAMME

10.00am - Te Wai Korari, Riverton This is a project of the Riverton Estuary Care Group, who purchased this wetland/flaxland area in 1997. (Entrance at east end of Riverton, opposite old hospital.) One of the main purposes for protecting this area was to enhance whitebait habitat and to this end they have developed a series of ponds. They have also undertaken major weed control and revegetation work, along with developing a circular walking track. Robert Guyton will take us on a guided tour of the area, explaining the history and future of this wetland.

11.00am - Taramea Bay Plantings A joint Community Board/SDC project, native plantings are being undertaken along the sea front. Hear how this has come to pass from Janice Templeton and what future plans are.

12.00 noon - Camp Longwood - Lunch

1.00pm - Aparima Pestbusters and Moores Reserve Hear the story of how a few guys got into controlling pests to the benefit of the local native bird population. Warrick McCallum will lead us along one of their bait station lines and explain the work of a growing bunch of volunteers in SDCs Moores Reserve.

2.30pm - Men of the Trees and Pourakino Reserve Foresight is a wonderful thing  an area of gorse inside the DoC Reserve boundary was seen as an opportunity by Men of the Trees to gain funds for future restoration and control the pest plant. The pines are now harvested and the returns are about to be invested to restore a beech forest. Ted Ramsay will outline the past and present endeavours of Men of the Trees members in this area, as well as showing how sycamore can become a major problem.

3.30pm - South Coast Environment Centre Afternoon tea and a chance to see whats available at this well run centre.

4.00pm - 5.00pm - Otaitai Flax Museum - Des Templeton has offered to be in attendance for the hour for anyone interested in visiting his excellent working display at Otaitai Bush of the original flax mill, a vital industry in Southlands past. $3 donation please.

Please feel free to join us at any stage of the day. Numbers for catering would be appreciated though. For any further information please contact Gay, 03 239 5827 or Chris 03 213 1161.