General information about the group: (For latest information posts please see below) The
Churton Park Revegetation Group is sponsored by the Churton Park
Community Association, and supported by both Wellington City Council and
Greater Wellington Regional Council. Current areas of activity and description are as follows: 1 Wingfield Reserve The group members are undertaking the ecological restoration of a high profile area of Churton Park. Wingfield Reserve runs parallel to Middleton Road north from Wingfield Place for about 400 metres, and is very visible from Middleton Road, which is a main access route. The reserve contains one of the upper tributaries of the Porirua Stream. The site has been the focus of the group’s efforts since 2004. Before work started the reserve and stream were not visible as they were hidden beneath a thick canopy of willow trees and choked with blackberry.The reserve has been radically transformed from a weedy, overgrown and inaccessible eyesore to a healthy, accessible bush fringed waterway for people to enjoy. At the Wingfield Reserve site the group has:
Future work:
Plants becoming established at the south end of the site adjacent to Wingfield Place Feb 2011  Same area July 2014   Same area July 2014  Planters on Saturday 7 August 2010  Same area July 2014 2 Stebbings Dam Right Bank This is a new area
commenced in 2014. The area adjacent to the top of the spillway was
planted out when the dam was built. However many of the plants did not
survive. This small project was to tidy up the area to bring it back to
comply with the original landscape plan. The group was supported by
the Wellington Regional Council for this project. Planting was carried
out on Arbor Day June 2014 assisted by a group of children from Churton
Park School. 3 Lakewood Reserve at south end Wellington City Council have been putting a lot of effort into tidying Lakewood reserve over recent years. Many of the large trees were felled, along with extensive areas of replanting. The group is working with WCC on this project. The plan is to get 500 plants into the ground in 2014 to extend the existing plantings. There are two main areas. The first is to plant around the edges of the currently grassed areas in the south west corner, near to the bridge. The remaining area of grass will then be more easily mown. The second area is to plant among the large number of flax plants that are dying due to a virus. In this area, because some of the existing shrubs are well established, some climax tree species will be used.  Planting area adjacent to end of bridge July 2014  Planting area among existing trees and shrubs July 2014 How you can help. Working bees held throughout the year. During the planting season (May to September), there are regular planting days (usually once a month) which anyone can attend. New members are always welcome, as is the assistance of corporate groups (such as businesses, government departments, or community groups) that want to give a half or full day back to the community, and have a great experience at the same time. You can contact the group as detailed below to volunteer or find out when work is next planned. Contact information The group is led by John Morrison, ph: 477 1020 Email revegetation@churtonpark.org.nz |
Revegetation Group
Extra planting day at Lakewood Reserve
Please note that planting will take place on Saturday 16 August commencing at 1pm. Come along and lend a hand to help enhance the green heart of Churton Park. |
Help Enhance the Green Heart of Churton Park- Lakewood Reserve
The
Churton
Park re-vegetation group is now working with
WCC to help with the ongoing planting in this area. Planting and
mulching afternoons at Lakewood Reserve are scheduled for Saturdays 26
July and 9 August, commencing at 1pm. Come along and lend a hand! No experience required - only enthusiasm. Meet at the Tennis Court carpark, off Lakewood Ave. Tools and gloves are available, but bring your own if possible. For further information please contact John Morrison 477 1020 or revegetation@churtonpark.org.nz
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Planting Programme for 2014
The planting days scheduled for this year are as follows: Thursday 5 June at 10am. Stebbings Dam at top of spillway on south side. Plants supplied by GWRC. This planting area is to tidy up the landscaping carried out when the dam was built, as not many plants had survived. As
planting at Wingfield Reserve is nearing completion, WCC have invited
us to move to another area to assist them in their activities. |
Planting now complete for 2013
With three planting days, the volunteers have now planted 590 trees and shrubs. These are made up of 540 supplied by WCC with the balance being split up flax and toetoe plants. This now completes planting for this season. The areas worked on were the flat area at the north end by the Office Max fence, and along the edge of the Farm Track in the middle of the site. Now some gentle rain is required to get them well settled in. Unfortunately we had some vandalism in the newly planted area at the north end, when about 25 plants were pulled out and thrown over the fence. The plants were soon back in their former places, but some have been lost. The Johnsonville Police have been advised. If any other vandalism is noticed, please phone the Revegetation Group Coordinator, John Morrison, on 477 1020. |
Planting schedule for 2013
Tjis year a total of 500 plants have been allocated to our group. The first planting day will be held on Saturday 29 June, starting at 1pm.Subsequent planting days are planned for Saturday 20 July and Saturday 10 August. For more information please contact John Morrison, ph 477 1020 |
Successful 2012 planting season completed
This
season 1000 more plants have been added to the total, which brings the total to date for the project to over 9000. The picture attached below shows part of the newly planted area on part of the
very steep slope in the middle of the site.
Mention must also be made of the two work groups who came from Contact Energy, and carried out a lot of site preparation and planting.
The site is now nearly full, but the clearance of more pest trees will open up other areas to be planted.
The main task now will be to keep grass and weeds, which grow very thickly on this site, away from the plants until they are established.
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| Attachments:
August 2012 plantings .JPG
Site update
The plantings from winter 2011 have all done very well. The regular rain over the summer provided good growing conditions, with survival rates probably over 90% which is great considering the steep slopes planted. During February the main track through the site was gravelled by workers from Dept of Corrections. The track is now suitable for walking in all weathers which will increase its use. The attached image shows the path as well as the good growth of toetoe, flax and other plants. |
| Attachments:
Site path gravelled.jpg
Programme for Winter 2012
The final 2012 main planting afternoon will be from 1pm
on Saturday 11 August. A great start on this years planting has been make. On Saturday 29 June we put 300 plants in the ground in the higher areas of the site. This was followed by some fine work by a group from Contact Energy on Friday 6 July. They cleared, planted and mulched the flat area below Middleton Road, as well as clearing part of the escarpment slope and planting the top and bottom of it. They planted an additional 200 plants. A photo of the workers is attached below. We have been allocated 1000 plants by WCC for 2012, so we are now half way through the task. Another group from Contact Energy is planned to come on Friday 27 July. . Our site is now part of a research project by students from Victoria Universtiy. They are studying the growth rates of lemonwood, wineberry and cabbage trees. These have been tagged and measured, with their positions fixed by GPS. This project may continue for a few years, so you may see students taking various measurements. |
| Attachments:
Contact Energy Group.jpg
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