Foraging and releasing at Battle Hill

In mid January, 19 volunteers from A Rocha’s Wellington Local Group and eco churches met at the homestead at Battle Hill Farm Park behind Pauatahanui. Visits to Battle Hill have become a periodic pleasure for the Wellington local group. Ranger John Tesoriero assisted us with some supplies, equipment and access.

Most people came in time for the picnic lunch at the Homestead and then we split into two groups – four of us went to collect seedlings in the forest for potting up, and the rest of the volunteers visited Swampy Gully to release our previous plantings.

The forest foragers (with the appropriate permit) collected and potted up 85 native seedlings that will be used to enrich plantings at Battle Hill, and also collected a few Swamp Maire seeds which were placed in a seed tray. The plants have been placed in an appropriate spot where they can be watered and cared for by the rangers until big enough to plant. Volunteer for the nearby eco church, Pautahanui Anglicans will also keep an eye on them.

The releasing group worked on the new plantings at the top end of Swampy Gully, which A Rocha’s Wellington Local Group planted in June 2022. Most of the plants appear to have survived and are growing well. The team released all the plantings at this site from the long grass, then took a well-earned afternoon-tea break in the shade of older plantings, as it was very hot. The hillside site above Swampy Gully, which was also planted by A Rocha in 2022, will be released by contractors.