Locals band together to tackle pests and litter in Manukau bush
A Manukau woman is being awarded for her efforts in trapping pests and cleaning up rubbish in the Totara bush.
Katherine Clayton has organised a regular meet up of locals to tend to the 20 bush reserves in Totara Heights which suffer from litter and pests.
“There are big problems with rubbish that blows in, and rats and possums also live here,” she said.
“There are pest plants that smother the ground so that new seedlings can’t come up.”
Clayton said she was “blown away” by the news she had won in the local hero category in the Keep New Zealand Beautiful awards.
“I was speechless, I didn’t know I had been nominated,” she said.
“It’s just something I’ve got a passion for and it’s been really fulfilling.”
Clayton has always tended to the bush around her own property, which she has lived at for 22 years.
But she believes if the community binds together they can have a larger impact.
“Let’s come together and focus on a couple of areas of bush,” she said.
“We’ll get the rubbish out and the weeds up and talk about predator control.”
The next clean-up day will depend on lockdown restrictions but is booked for September 26.
Locals who are interested in helping out can contact Clayton through the Totara Heights Bush Guardians Facebook page.
Six tips for improving security around your home
1) Improve outdoor lighting
Ensure that streets, driveways, and front yards are well-lit. Motion-sensor lights around homes deter trespassers by reducing hiding spots and illuminating their movements.
2) Trim your trees
Overgrown shrubs and trees provide cover for intruders. Keeping them well-trimmed around windows and doors improves visibility and reduces potential hiding spots.
3) Secure Entry Points
Ensure doors, windows, and gates are always closed when you are away from the house. Upgrade to more secure locks, deadbolts, or even smart locks for added protection.
4) Add a security camera
Place security cameras in the main entry points to your home. Doorbell cameras are also relatively cheap and a great way to keep track of who is visiting your home when you aren't there.
5) Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
You could reach out to members on Neighbourly to form a group of neighbors who can regularly keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it. You could also check with Neighbourhood Support to see what is existing in your area.
6) Introduce yourself to your neighbours
The closer you are to your neighbors, the more likely they’ll notice when something unusual or suspicious is happening around your property
Feel free to share anything that you do around your area to deter crime.
Poll: Is dumping an issue in your neighbourhood?
There's nothing worse than strolling around the streets in your neighbourhood and seeing dumped rubbish.
Have you noticed this in your area? What could we do to combat this around the country?
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43.2% Yes, I've seen some illegal dumping
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56.2% No, our neighbourhood is pretty good
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0.6% Other - I'll share below
Dumping of rubbish
Thank you to the people that left their rubbish here last night your rego has been photographed with you dumping it, you can come back and get it at night or I will send photo to police and city council. You have three days to remove it.
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