Welcome to the Reserve Newsletter
Welcome to the fourth edition of our newsletter. We hope that through this six monthly newsletter we will be able to keep you in touch with the reserve’s progress and special events. Weather permitting, the Friends of the Reserve meet most Saturday mornings at the Reserve for planting and general site maintenance. You are most welcome to join us and partake in the activities. We also have the occasional “working bees” where a special effort is made to complete a particular project.
Articles or photographs for future editions of the Newsletter would be most welcome.
The death of Len Frances was a severe blow to our organisation as Len was a forthright ideas person and a dedicated worker with sole charge of the propagation facilities. A replacement volunteer is sorely needed as the flourishing shade house has not yet run its course.
A dry autumn meant tree growth slowed significantly and disrupted the planting program. However, the weather was kind to volunteers who removed mature tree lucerne that was obstructing the emerging native trees. Of course the natives could be left to dominate the tree lucerne which was planted as a protective cover crop for the native saplings but selectively clearing that crop speeds up the natural process. Key volunteers, Keith Bain and Mike Fudakowski have cleared the fence line on Hillcrest St as well as the western boundary shared with the Wairarapa College farm.
Bird life is flourishing in the reserve with flocks of small birds such as goldfinch feeding on grass seed. Waterfowl are thriving and a welcome visitor was a black swan which took up residence in the top pond for over a month.
The AGM set for the 20 th June is open to interested people whether or not they are members of FMNF Society. The meeting is scheduled for 3:30pm at the old fish hatchery building, known also as Ohorere School .
Annual General Meeting
Sunday 20th June 2010
at
3.00 pm
at the Ohorere School, Pownall Street, Masterton
