In last weeks Bulletin there was a mention of the Working Bee on June 19th at Apirana reserve. The Bulletin publishing deadline didn't allow us to run an in-depth story, so here it is thanks to Peter Buchanan.
A record turnout occurred for the first working bee of the St Johns 2022-23 Rotary year, in fact just 12 hours after Changeover! A group of 17 enthusiastic gumboot-clad members, partners, and friends met at 9am on Sunday 19 June at Apirana Reserve, Glen Innes – coordinated by Ken, Nanda, Roger who began the restoration of this neglected weed-infested 'reserve' 2.5 years ago.
Preparations at the Reserve are well in hand for a third year of planting of sapling native trees, with relevant land having been sprayed and partly levelled. Our work was to shift a giant 30m3 pile of wood mulch, using shovels, wheelbarrows, and bucket chain-gangs, to form a multitude of ‘molehill’ piles of mulch across the area for future planting. Later, holes will be augered between these mulch piles – ready for planting and spreading of mulch around plants on 23 July.
In addition to good humour of the hard-working participants, we were also fortunate to have fine weather and the encouraging leadership of co-President Graham from the ridge-top and of co-President Gary among the workers on the plain. Graham was particularly proud of the dimension of his piles.
With a satisfying feeling of accomplishment, we completed the task by 11.15am; then cleaned up ahead of a social catchup over coffee. At the coffee-bar, we were visited by Elena from the Sustainable Business Network, who will be invited to speak at Rotary about this large environmental business-linked organisation. Ken & Roger will also speak about the Apirana Reserve project at our breakfast meeting on 30 June.
The photos below, in order, show Before, During and After.
Ken, Roger and Nanda also sent a thank you note to the club, via Co President Gary. Click on "Read More" to read;
From: ken samson <kensamson@hotmail.com>
Date: 20 June 2022 at 08:41:53 NZST
To: Gary Key <gkey@xtra.co.nz>, Peter Buchanan <buchananpandr@gmail.com>, Nanda MacLaren <nanda.maclaren@gmail.com>, Roger Stamp <rogerstamp43a@gmail.com>
Subject: Apirana Reserve
Date: 20 June 2022 at 08:41:53 NZST
To: Gary Key <gkey@xtra.co.nz>, Peter Buchanan <buchananpandr@gmail.com>, Nanda MacLaren <nanda.maclaren@gmail.com>, Roger Stamp <rogerstamp43a@gmail.com>
Subject: Apirana Reserve
Hi Gary and Peter,
Firstly, again our congratulations Gary on your appointment, and we wish you well for the duration of your term. I'm sure you'll be great.
Secondly a massive thank you, to you and your team for the huge effort that was put in yesterday. To clear approx. 30 cub metres of mulch was hugely impressive, and without your generous help would have taken the 3 of us a month of sundays to spread, interspersed with lengthy hospital treatments for old age exhaustion. There is an element of calmness now knowing that we will be totally ready to go on the 23rd July for planting - a year ago looking at an incredibly weedy and messy site I was doubtful we would be ready, but it just shows that persistence pays off. It really is going to be a fabulous piece of native forest.
Please share this email and pass on our grateful thanks to everyone who showed up and worked so bloody hard. We loved the way everybody just got on with it, there was a lot of good natured banter, and to my knowledge there were no blows exchanged.
Look forward to seeing you all on the 30th, and we will send out a reminder of the planting details at the beginning of the month.
Again our grateful thanks
Cheers
Nanda, Roger and Ken