June 2004 - Margaret Suman

June has been a month of planting at several of the Yellow-Eyed Penguin habitats, meeting with other conservation groups and working with school children out at the Nursery.

Public Planting Days
The Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust holds public planting days during the winter when the penguins are least disturbed and the ground conditions are suitable for plant survival. Our first planting day was at Okia Reserve on the Otago Peninsula, which is jointly owned by the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust and Dunedin City Council.

We had a great group of individuals; family members, Department of Conservation Volunteers and University students from the Students for Environmental Action group join us. The day was very well organised due to the areas being prepared, plants positioned and spades waiting alongside! Therefore, it all went smoothly and quickly – 240 plants were planted in 2 hours! It is wonderful when we get enough people to plant as it gives us time to answer any questions people have about the Trust, our planting and reserves.

The next public planting day was at Tavora (North of Dunedin) where we planted 425 plants amongst remnant bush that had been grazed for many years. Our vision is to eventually connect these plantings with the existing natural vegetation of the neighbouring Goodwood Reserve, and ultimately down to the sea.

Additional Planting
We have also been out with our Ranger to Otapahi on the Otago Peninsula where we planted 270 trees and shrubs. As part of the ongoing Boulder Beach project, which coincided with Arbor Week, we joined the Conservation Corps where we planted 168 plants. There were heaps of people helping with planting, the positioning of penguin nest boxes, and putting wire cages around plants that are vulnerable to possums and rabbits. In this area one of the DOC Rangers found a peripatus (an ancient invertebrate), which was an exciting find. This area was the first area planted as part of the “Save the Yellow-Eyed Penguin campaign” in the late 1980’s. These first plantings were so successful that soil structures have enabled other species to colonise the area, in this case the peripatus. This is proof that areas can be restored to their original state through conservation efforts.

Pikao Group
One of the community groups that uses our Nursery facilities is the Pikao Recovery Group. This is a group dedicated to bringing the native sedge, Pikao, back to the dunes on the coastline to help with dune restoration. We are members of the organization and attend regular meetings and assist with their planting days.

Improvements to the Nursery
Our shelter area outside is finished and 3 potting benches have been made. The new potting benches have worked out so well that we are having some more made for the shadehouse and tunnelhouse. The heating area for root cuttings is almost finished, all we have to do is order the cables and misting units. We are still waiting for building approvals for the much needed tunnel house.

Portobello School
We finally were able to have the Portobello School out to the Nursery. This is a local community school of 70+ pupils that have a lovely reserve of their own. After several cancellations due to weather, we had a clear spell for two days to allow all the school to experience working at the Nursery. It was cold but it didn’t hamper the enthusiasm of the kids. We first looked at their seedlings from last year, many of which are ready to be planted out or potted on. We also taught them how to make seed balls and how to scatter them, held a plant identification quiz, and everyone planted their own Poa cita (silver tussock) to take home. They even had enough time to make some really creative penguins out of clay! We are looking forward to meeting the kids in late winter to see their reserve and help them plant some of the native plants that they have grown at our Nursery.

Well, we feel like this is what it is all about…getting those plants out onto the coastline, talking to the public about the importance of native plants and sharing our knowledge about the yellow-eyed penguins. We have run across so many people that are passionate about what they are doing for conservation. It is an inspiration to both of us.

Until next time
Anita and Margaret

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