Waikato Museum River Day
We ran a successful publicity stall at the Waikato Museum River Day in
early March. We were one of only two environment groups to exhibit
here. The stall
included posters on the values of gully streams and freshwater life,
and a competition with a free 3-month garden bin collection as a
prize.Unfortunately we had to cancel our publicity stall at the Good
Life Expo due to the weather.
Enviroschools experience for Glenview Primary
Members of our group were involved in helping show over 100 pupils from
Glenview Primary School how healthy the stream below Waterford Rd is.
The students learned about how to identify invertebrates, and how to
measure and interpret water temperature and clarity. Every student was
given one of the stream care group's fridge magnets.
Results of our 2007 Bird survey
We joined the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey
which was run over 14-22 July nationally in parks and garden by
Landcare Research. We monitored 4 sites in Sandford Park and
recorded 16 species, 5 of which were native and made up 27% of
the birds seen (click here
to see the list of species). The data have been sent to Landcare
Research and we plan to repeat the survey annually over the coming
years to see if our planting efforts increase native bird biodiversity.
Waterford Gully planting underway
Part of the gully below Waterford Road in Sandford Park has been
cleared and planting is underway. We have had help from group
members, the South City Lions, The Church of the Latterday Saints, Kiwi
Conservation Club, The University School of Education, Project K and
St Pius X school (see photo) which also had some sessions with Enviroschools
co-ordinator Dean King to learn about the Mangakotukutuku Stream (read the Waikato Times article). See part of the the gully before we got stuck in, after site clearance and then after planting.
University Environment Day
A publicity stall was held at the Waikato University Environment Day in
May as part of an awareness campaign for environmental groups.
Good Life Expo
The streamcare group ran a publicity stall at the Good Life Expo as
part of the Right Bank Festival in late February. The stall
included posters on the values of gully streams and freshwater life,
and a competition with a free 3-month garden bin collection as a
prize.
Sandford Park Clean Up
On a Saturday afternoon in late November, 22 keen volunteers carried
out a rubbish clean up in Sandford Park. In two hours we collected 32
large bags of rubbish, 30 tyres, 5 sheets of iron, 6 chairs, and bits
of 3 beds and 6 bikes. The Council came through a few days later and
took the rubbish away. Sandford Park is now a much more pleasant place
to walk through. We also cleared weeds around some native plantings.
Thanks to the Keep Hamilton Beautiful group for their support with this
clean up.
Glenview School Gala competition
On 18 November, Ian and Elaine from the Mangakotukutuku Stream Care
Group ran a competition at the Glenview Primary School Gala. The
competition involved putting the right names to different species of
plants and animlas found in the gully and stream. Thanks to Grant from
Red Lid Wheelie Bins for providing a prize for the competition. |
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Gully walk
In
early August, several group members braved the rain to check out
Mangakotukutuku Stream in flood as it flowed through Sandford Park. It
was interesting to see the different coloured water coming out of the
three main tributary streams, reflecting the sources and extent of
erosion upstream. Some very small tributary streams were still running
clear.
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