Whenuapai Restoration Group (WRA) formed in 2016 with the intention of getting rid of invasive weeds from local coastal reserves and planting native plants remedially. The group is also part of the Upper Harbour Ecology Network.
WRA have held weeding bees in the communities popular Waimarie Beach Reserve to protect trees such as pōhutukawa. Gecko Trust has developed a thorough community wide predator control programme specific to Whenuapai, targeting rats and possums. If you are interested in starting up a predator control programme for your community, or want help organising a community weeding bee, contact us.
Members of the group are excited about the possibilities of working together, and are very pleased to have had the support and guidance of a Gecko facilitator in both the technical and social aspects of getting a group off the ground. “Without you I wouldn’t have had the confidence to get the group going, being an absolute beginner,” says group coordinator Paul Herbert who, inspite of personal health challenges, is consciously making positive life choices. Their working bees also have a strong social focus for neighbours who enjoying connecting over a mutual love of their local environments, and after work ‘Wine and Weeds’ sessions are particularly popular.
If you’d like to support them in their efforts contact their group coordinator Paul Herbert paulh0411@gmail.com or stay updated with the group here.
With support and funding from Upper Harbour Local Board and the Upper Harbour Ecology Network
