Get your hands dirty for a good cause
Porirua City Council and Conservation Volunteers Wellington are collaborating on several community conservation projects in Porirua to help restore and clean up litter in our local parks and reserves.
“We want to encourage our residents to get involved in these community conservation projects, it is a fantastic way to give back and you don’t need any training or special gear – Conservation Volunteers will provide everything that you may need,” says Julian Emeny, the Council’s Parks Manager.
Conservation Volunteers has all bases covered – they provide a fully trained team leader overseeing the event, gloves, tools, health and safety management, and training.
“We ask volunteers to wear good sturdy boots, long sleeves and pants. Bringahat, a weatherproof jacket and a packed lunch, snacks and water to keep you going while saving the planet!” says Emeny.
He says that it is also a fun day out for families and a great way to get young and old involved in local conservation projects. “Bring the whole whānau along and makeaday of it. We’d love to see a great turnout of people supporting their local parks and reserves.”
Upcoming events
20 March, 9am Bothamley Park Restoration, 14 Fiordland Place, Aotea. We’ll attend to previously planted trees and do a litter cleanup. Afterwards there will be a short, guided hikoi through the bush.
24 March, 9am Porirua wetland restoration, Bowlers Wharf, Papakōwhai. We’ll be cleaning up rubbish and removing invasive weeds from around estuary areas and streambanks.
8 April, 9am Sievers Grove Nursery day. We’ll help with the propagation processes to nurture and raise native plants which will be used to restore ecosystems and wildlife habitats.
17 April, 9am Cannons Creek Lakes clean up. Come and help us to restore and protect the creek for all the critters and native plants that live there.
You can find more information on volunteering opportunities at conservationvolunteers.co.nz
Spring gardening tips
Dreaming of a garden bursting with colour and fresh produce? Shane Fairbairn, Ryman Healthcare’s Landscape Manager, shares his top tips to make it happen. You’ll be set to create a gorgeous, relaxing space in no time - grab your trowel, and let’s dig in.
Click read more for more information.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Have you seen Graham?
The 77-year-old was last seen by family at the Colonial Knob walkway near Porirua, on ‘The Doctor’ track, around 5:45pm.
He is potentially suffering dementia, and has difficulty hearing.
Graham is around 165cm tall, of slight build, wearing a blue puffer jacket and brown corduroy pants.
Police are in the area searching, but if you have any information that may help, please call 111 and quote event number P060575913.