The remainder of 2007 saw up continuing the maintenance of Rubys Glen and Stage 1 of the Cascade Reserve - Cockpit. There was always weeds to dig out & clearing of vines etc. Our dedicated team worked every fortnight to keep it looking good and to give the trees planted the best fighting chance possible.
This work carried on into 2008 when we began to look at progressing to the next stage and possibly trying for another Envirofund Federal grant
Sunday, August 22, 2010
2007 Woody Weed Roadside Cleanup
Due to the great response to the Roadside Cleanup last year and a few comments about having only 10 on a team; 2007 saw us change the name of the cleanup to Landcares Woody Weed Roadside Cleanup. We contacted selected motivated people on roads and encouraged them to get anyone along their road to participate in clearing their 1km stretch of woody weeds. As the previous year the Team had the entire month of May to have their roadside done. Also same as last year was the restaurants, butchers, bakers & clubs donating food and wine to the team who completed their stretch which was pulled out of the hat in a draw.
A staggering 32 teams put their hands up and we cleaned up even more roads than the year previous. Everyone was proud of the job that they did and the roadsides looked fantastic again.
The winning team of the food & grog draw was that of lower Colins Head Road & Allendale Drive.
Another great showing of community spirit and Island pride and lovely to behold.
A staggering 32 teams put their hands up and we cleaned up even more roads than the year previous. Everyone was proud of the job that they did and the roadsides looked fantastic again.
The winning team of the food & grog draw was that of lower Colins Head Road & Allendale Drive.
Another great showing of community spirit and Island pride and lovely to behold.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Westpac gives us project funding
My bank manager in 2007 was Ray Lindwell located at our Westpac branch. Ray was a fantastic guy who could really take a joke so on a regular basis I would hassle him jokingly about how Westpac funds Landcare projects in Australia - how about he get them to kick the can for us. Eventually he caved in and passed our name to the man who arranges the grants from Westpac.
He called me at my work and said he had heard from Ray that there was a project that they might be interested in funding. I briefly outlined the project which was the rehabilitation and beautification of the Cascade Reserve surrounding the Cascade Pier. He asked how much funding was I after? I asked him how much could I get? He said that the normal was to get $100 per staff member and we had 6 staff in the Westpac Norfolk Island branch but he could authorise grants of between $1100.00 and $6000.00 if the project was deemed worthy. He asked again how much I wanted and I said $6000.00. He laughed and said for me to fill out the application and he would see what he could do. I duly applied and to our astonishment and appreciation; we received $6100.00.
Unfortunately we were then told by the Minister for the Environment Vicky Jack; that we were not permitted to work in that area just in case down the track it became a harbour. The search was then on for an alternative site. We settled on Headstone - the area where the monument sits and planning began for the work to begin.
We first had the excavator carve us a truck width track from Headstone Road up to the top of the rise to allow us maintenance access.
He called me at my work and said he had heard from Ray that there was a project that they might be interested in funding. I briefly outlined the project which was the rehabilitation and beautification of the Cascade Reserve surrounding the Cascade Pier. He asked how much funding was I after? I asked him how much could I get? He said that the normal was to get $100 per staff member and we had 6 staff in the Westpac Norfolk Island branch but he could authorise grants of between $1100.00 and $6000.00 if the project was deemed worthy. He asked again how much I wanted and I said $6000.00. He laughed and said for me to fill out the application and he would see what he could do. I duly applied and to our astonishment and appreciation; we received $6100.00.
Unfortunately we were then told by the Minister for the Environment Vicky Jack; that we were not permitted to work in that area just in case down the track it became a harbour. The search was then on for an alternative site. We settled on Headstone - the area where the monument sits and planning began for the work to begin.
Our Landcare crew were joined by Ray and the Westpac staff and planting were done on the slopes and cliff edge. We planted mainly pines. oaks and flax as they are the most hardy of the Norfolk natives and best able to withstand the harsh winds that frequent this region and proximity to the coast. Unfortunately we all forgot to take a camera so I have no pics of the planting but here are some of the area afterwards.
Maintenance of Cockpit
As time marched by and we came into the summer months of 2006 and early 2007; there was little work that could be done planting anything further and we kept our working bees to maintaining the Stage 1 area at Cockpit. It is a constant battle keeping ahead of the woody weeds which come up and we also had a problem with Morning Glory vine, which at one time threatened to choke the trees planted and was a monumental job to get rid of. Lucky for our dedicated team who have kept hard at work in this beautiful part of Cascade Reserve.
Planting the high bank aside lower Taylors Road
On a bit of a role now with assisting in plantings around the Island; we were given permission to plant mixed forest on a section of the high bank nearing the bottom of Taylors Road. This section was lower adjoining two high banks either side. Nevertheless it was still steep and a hard job.
Holes were hand dug and trees lugged to the spot and planted. We were as always generous on the water crystals & fertilising as these would be do or die plantings - they would have to survive off their own bat with little to no maintenance.
Around 35 trees were planted randomly in this stretch. As we were working a small car passed us and the people inside stuck their head out and waved to us. We tried to wave them in to give a hand but to no avail. Later we went down to Manas for a cuppa & cake and saw the same people walking along the waterfront. We learned they Dick & Rowena Massicks, they were new to the Island and had bought Cascade Joinery. Tongue in cheek we told them we would give them a cuppa if they joined Landcare. Lucky for us they agreed and Dick has been one of our fantastic members who works with us on many projects.
Holes were hand dug and trees lugged to the spot and planted. We were as always generous on the water crystals & fertilising as these would be do or die plantings - they would have to survive off their own bat with little to no maintenance.
Around 35 trees were planted randomly in this stretch. As we were working a small car passed us and the people inside stuck their head out and waved to us. We tried to wave them in to give a hand but to no avail. Later we went down to Manas for a cuppa & cake and saw the same people walking along the waterfront. We learned they Dick & Rowena Massicks, they were new to the Island and had bought Cascade Joinery. Tongue in cheek we told them we would give them a cuppa if they joined Landcare. Lucky for us they agreed and Dick has been one of our fantastic members who works with us on many projects.
Planting the Chinaman bank
Later in 2006 Landcare had a request from the conservator Fred Howe for assistance in a project to plant the bank of the Chinaman at Kingston. This is a long and fairly high bank which backs onto the ocean at the rear and a grassed area at the front popular with picnickers. Further in front is beautiful Emily Bay, the most popular swimming beach. The bank is sandstone and the eroded soil on it a sandy loam.
We were asked to plant the bank in flax and a few Norfolk pines along the base. To our delight Fred arranged for a small excavator to dig the holes for us as the ground was hard and digging with a spade almost impossible. Luckily we had brought with us a load of topsoil against advice. It was just as well as there was no soil to speak of beneath where the flax was planted and tough an all as they are, we felt a bit of soil beneath would give them the best chance of survival in this harsh environment.
We hand carted buckets of soil up the slopes to fill the holes we planted the flax in. The pines were planted along the base of the bank in the ground. These were donated spindly tall pines and it was rather doubtful that they would survive but we thought we'd give them a chance.
It was quite a big job for the small group of people who assisted. Running up and down the slopes with buckets of soil was a bit of an endurance test but we got the job done and all of the flax & trees planted.
We were asked to plant the bank in flax and a few Norfolk pines along the base. To our delight Fred arranged for a small excavator to dig the holes for us as the ground was hard and digging with a spade almost impossible. Luckily we had brought with us a load of topsoil against advice. It was just as well as there was no soil to speak of beneath where the flax was planted and tough an all as they are, we felt a bit of soil beneath would give them the best chance of survival in this harsh environment.
We hand carted buckets of soil up the slopes to fill the holes we planted the flax in. The pines were planted along the base of the bank in the ground. These were donated spindly tall pines and it was rather doubtful that they would survive but we thought we'd give them a chance.
It was quite a big job for the small group of people who assisted. Running up and down the slopes with buckets of soil was a bit of an endurance test but we got the job done and all of the flax & trees planted.
The Young grove
Many Island families and their descendants came home for the Sesquicentenary 8 June 2006. One such family was the Young family. The Youngs had been one of the families who had later returned to Pitcairn Island after their settling in Norfolk Island. There are only a couple of family descendants of the Youngs now living on the Island
They wished to plant some trees to have a lasting memory of their trip and it was arranged that we would plant down the side of the big paddock at Fredicks Aege opposite the site of Aunt Lils old home - one of the Young family properties. As time was of the essence I asked Jimbo my husband to bring his small excavator and predig the holes. The Youngs thought this was amusing but were extremely appreciative that they didnt have to dig the holes.
The trees were quickly put in and a day later we returned to get a fence up around them.
They wished to plant some trees to have a lasting memory of their trip and it was arranged that we would plant down the side of the big paddock at Fredicks Aege opposite the site of Aunt Lils old home - one of the Young family properties. As time was of the essence I asked Jimbo my husband to bring his small excavator and predig the holes. The Youngs thought this was amusing but were extremely appreciative that they didnt have to dig the holes.
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