What's going on in my Area

Everyone can play a part in maintaining and enhancing our region's biodiversity, and in fact, it is only through shared responsibility and the collective efforts of us all, that this will be achieved.

Throughout Canterbury there are increasing numbers of community and landowner groups undertaking biodiversity restoration and protection projects. These efforts are fundamental to ensuring the future of our distinctive natural heritage.

Friends of Kelcey's Bush

Kelcey's Bush near South Canterbury's Waimate is a good example of enjoyability-and-easy-access-meets-native-bush.

This portion of lowland east coast bush is a remnant of the massive totara and matai forests felled over several generations. There's a small waterfall and the gully opens to reveal a grassy terrain ideal for family picnics. Its close proximity to Waimate makes this a well loved, well used slice of native bush. It is part of the Department of Conservation (DOC) Estate, and once owned by the old Waimate Borough Council.

An enthusiastic and active group of volunteers form the Friends of Kelcey's Bush, who are largely responsible for maintaining and enhancing the bush. John Stevens chairs this group, which has worked hard over the last six years planting, developing and maintaining the reserve and winning a Canterbury Weedbusters award.

DOC brings in specialist workers to do jobs like building steps or installing the new toilet. The Friends crew are often the workhorses, lugging in heavy gear, such as the elephant footprint-size river stepping stones. "You can now cross the small streams without getting your feet wet" says John. "I've been hunting since I was old enough to ride on my father's shoulders. I just like being in the bush and I like conserving it."

A major thrust has been implementing a landscaping plan to enhance the entrance, car park and picnic areas. Willows and macrocarpas have been cleared, natives planted, the car park and toilet upgraded, and plant pests attacked.

(Environment Canterbury supplied story, April 2008)

Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust

The Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust was established in 2001 and since then has grown from strength to strength. The Trust works closely with government agencies, councils, local runanga, NZ Landcare Trust, Federated Farmers and scientists to protect and enhance the indigenous biodiversity and significant landscapes of Banks Peninsula on private land. Chairman and Peninsula farmer Rick Menzies says he believes the trust is the only organisation, besides the QEII Trust, registered to covenant private land. To date, it has registered 31 Conservation Covenants and another 15 are in the pipeline.

The Trust is also actively involved in pest eradication, a forest restoration group, a Tui restoration project, and a biodiversity forum. In cooperation with Environment Canterbury and the Department of Conservation, the trust has virtually eradicated feral goats from the Peninsula, and is now turning its attention to feral deer and pigs.

(Environment Canterbury supplied story, April 2008)

To find out more about projects and groups active in your area, and who to contact to get involved, check out the following sites –

In the longer term, we're hoping to develop a database of community-based groups and projects linked to an interactive map of the region (like the one below), so that you will be able to zoom into your part of the region and see what groups and projects are active there, and who you can contact to get involved.

If you would like to register your community group or project to be included in this, register the details by clicking here

In the meantime, for a bit of fun, use the zoom tool on the map below to zoom in to your local suburb, area, school, or even in to your property!

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