After spending some of the morning learning about the threat from Orange Hawkweed we moved on to the Springs where after walking past it twice the reported Holly was spotted; it was hard to see how we could have missed but there you go.

From there we went to Disappearing Tarn to track down a reported Radiata Pine which was found exactly where described. On closer inspection we discovered that other pines had been cut down years ago and  the one in question had been partly cut into.   Three other pines were also located nearby.  Apart from a smallish one , all the living specimens had been cut or partly ringbarked.   They may or may not have been poisoned as well as cut, but nevertheless were still alive and generally healthy.

The four live pines were all completely and heavily ringbarked and herbicide applied to the cut.

It appears that pines don’t reshoot if cut down   but if not ringbarked enough  may continue growing.    It is not known if the ones cut down in the past were also poisoned.  All we have ringbarked have also had herbicide applied (glyphosate)

The reroute for the start of Thark Ridge was reviewed and adjusted to make use of the best ground conditions.  The work done was from the western end and close to 500 metres cut.  Rocks were used to harden a small section over a drainage line at the far western end.  The final part remaining was reassessed and a more direct route found, with only a very small and easy rock traverse involved. It is about 230 metres then joins one of the existing pads for another 170 metres to the car park.  The optional way is longer by 50 metres.

The remaining work is scheduled for 25 January.

Before and After photos, showing that not a lot of vegetation had to be removed to make the new track

After working on seedlings at the two previous working bees in the area, most welcomed getting back to tackling the mature Gorse bushes at the lower (eastern) end of the Inglewood site. Quite a thick area of Gorse, now with quite a number of tall Cotoneaster bushes and Blackberry were also encountered.  There now only remains a small patch of Gorse and Blackberry to finish off the primary work.  The Blackberry has all been just small outbreaks, but that remaining is a bit larger.   A 4wd drive width track marks the end of the forested area and also our work site, but below this a line of Blackberry and gorse right down to Strickland avenue which will be left for the HCC to determine how it should be managed.
Near the park entrance there is a patch of Gorse that may be tackled at future working bees

Showers caused us to finish work about 30 minutes early

The area subject to our Tolosa Envirofund grant (2007)  was again checked through, in the knowledge that some seedlings would be present.  Quite a number were found and removed, but following the favourable conditions over the year, a number were also spotted in the long ago cleared area which reinforced the need to revisit sites continually.   Other more recent cleared sites were also checked and not unexpectantly some seedlings were discovered.   In the most southern zone od this Tolosa site there were  patches of Erica to be tackled on our next visit.

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Not ideal weather, but sufficiently suitable to do the follow up on the old Gorse sites previously part of the May 2011 session.   The primary work was done in 2007.

 
Initially we started on the Envirofund site, but as there were lots of reshooting low bushy plants  plus seedlings, it was decided that it would be better value for our time to work on the sites that we previously cleared.  This follow up work started from our May 2011 finish spot and worked down towards the Envirofund site.  Quite a number of small seedlings were located and removed.  The seedling spread was concentrated in some locations whilst other areas only had a low number.

The Envirofund site was one that had been agreed the HCC would arrange for follow up spraying and this looks like it needs doing as soon as conditions allow.

We walked up the Chapel fire trail from the end of Chapel Street, which at times was quite steep.   Some boneseed was removed during the ascent.  One old Erica site was checked and a few plants discovered.  At the Epacris acuminata site we located several Erica and removed all found.  They were at several scattered spots and mostly an isolated  two or three plants, some of reasonable size and flowering.  In two patches about 15-20 plants of varying age was found.

The Epacris is in two main spots either side of Chapel trail.  The western side  looked very healthy and was quite dominant.  On the eastern side the bushes were in general smaller as the area had been burnt more recently than the other; however again the plants were vigorous and now quite thick and plentiful.

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We continued in the area last worked on in August  2011 and initially rescanned the previously cleared areas to remove new plants, plus a few larger that had escaped attention.  That took almost an hour then the areas of older regrowth were tacked.  Good progress was made and the soil was still nicely soft enough to allow all but the larger bushes to be pulled out buy hand. The area will again be tackled in the near future.

Morning Tea Goat Hills

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Report from Mike Bowden, who kindly organised the day

We checked all the sites in the area except for one in the lower corner. These sites were cleared of Erica seedings and a few small patches of gorse seedlings.  The council are planning to spray from the Main Fire Trail down to the fire break below.

After morning tea we concentrated on large flowering Erica under the transmission lines, starting at the top side going down from the Main Fire Trail.  Trees in this area had recently been trimmed but nothing done to the Erica.  We worked ’till 12 noon when it started to rain, so headed back up to the council vehicle to get our wet weather gear – then it was decided to call it quits.

Back to the cars by 12.30pm. Didn’t stay for lunch!

Tackling Erica

Morning Tea

This was a follow up on the area that has been regularly worked on you several years since 2003, the last occasion being April 2011.  We worked in an outward expanding circle from the usual central spot and found a number of seedlings, but each visit there are less and less being found.    This meant the area was able to be expanded into patches further out that had concentrations of Erica.  Good progress was made in these latter spots, but work still remains to be done.

We checked out other Goat Hills locations during our return to the cars, including an old cleared area with a thick cover of Erica.

The photos below are not from our work area, but from nearby location that was once cleared and may have been the site of a dwelling.

There are several piles of rocks similar to this one at the perimeter of the cleared area.

The Erica growing in the cleared area.

Although early morning was fine, by the time we were due to meet rain had started.  Whilst discussing the situation things improved so a start was made to pull out the small Gorse plants in the previously worked areas.  However a shower accompanied by quite dark  conditions halted work for the day and we retreated to the Ancanthe museum porch for morning tea before departing for the day.

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Wellington