I'm keen to look at it after heavy rain. What I've observed further down the stream is that there's more water after heavy rain, but it doesn't have big floods like other streams. I suspect that there's a pile of gravel which came down in slips and this has smothered the streambed. So it goes into the gravel and percolates through there before coming out the other side.
What's fascinating is that it seems to be doing a great job of cleaning the water.
Good on you, Melanie. You might have a job for a while there. Trad is a very persistent weed to deal with ... as you well appreciate.
We have a small park behind our house in Woollahra in Sydney called HarbourView Park. we have had a bush regen team of a few volunteers working on it for quite a few years, and we have totally removed Trad from this park
Here in San Diego we’ll have canyons completely overrun with nonnative invasives, South African iceplant, eucalypti from Australia, European mustard and grasses, etc. Complicating restoration efforts are property owners. It is more than daunting.
Absolutely. One of the positive things about Wellington is that the rainfall is high, meaning that the natural vegetation is dense temperate rainforest, and once that is established there aren't too many invasive plants which cause a problem (animals are another matter though). Native plants fight their way back with only limited efforts to nudge the balance in their direction.
I am currently reading Erica Gies’ “Water Always Wins”. Currently all about water storage in “paleo rivers” and how water can be stored in old, underground river courses. All set in the US, but hence my interest in your stream.
Good job Melanie! I look forward to seeing if you discover what happens to the stream.
I'm keen to look at it after heavy rain. What I've observed further down the stream is that there's more water after heavy rain, but it doesn't have big floods like other streams. I suspect that there's a pile of gravel which came down in slips and this has smothered the streambed. So it goes into the gravel and percolates through there before coming out the other side.
What's fascinating is that it seems to be doing a great job of cleaning the water.
Good on you, Melanie. You might have a job for a while there. Trad is a very persistent weed to deal with ... as you well appreciate.
We have a small park behind our house in Woollahra in Sydney called HarbourView Park. we have had a bush regen team of a few volunteers working on it for quite a few years, and we have totally removed Trad from this park
That's fantastic! It can be done but it is truly a labour of Hercules.
Here in San Diego we’ll have canyons completely overrun with nonnative invasives, South African iceplant, eucalypti from Australia, European mustard and grasses, etc. Complicating restoration efforts are property owners. It is more than daunting.
Absolutely. One of the positive things about Wellington is that the rainfall is high, meaning that the natural vegetation is dense temperate rainforest, and once that is established there aren't too many invasive plants which cause a problem (animals are another matter though). Native plants fight their way back with only limited efforts to nudge the balance in their direction.
Thank you so much for this brilliant piece of writing. For your acute and informed observations and your suggestions.
I agree - bit by bit eventually makes a huge difference. If I didn’t live in Taupo I would help you.
When one person declares they are giving it a go others love to help I find.
Thank you again Melanie.
Thank you. That's one thing it's hopeful to see in Wellington. Lots of people putting a bit of time in to help the environment.
I am currently reading Erica Gies’ “Water Always Wins”. Currently all about water storage in “paleo rivers” and how water can be stored in old, underground river courses. All set in the US, but hence my interest in your stream.
That's really interesting. I've actually got someone on my list to talk to about groundwater in the next few months.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this and very glad to read you have started to tackle the Tradescantia!
Thanks Prue, I really appreciate it. I can already see my progress, so that's positive.
This is a great way for both you and Donna to enjoy the outdoors while giving back. Every little bit counts, right?
Absolutely. And by prioritising the areas I tackle to those where I can make the most difference, I can already see progress in just a few weeks.