Restoring and protecting the iconic scenic tussock grassland, alpine and coastal landscapes of South Marlborough

VOLUNTEER CONTROL FIELD DATES

SUNDAY 19th MAY

Back up date: Sunday 9th June

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INFO@MARLBOROUGHRESTORATION.ORG.NZ

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K E T ' S - E P I C - B I K E - R I D E - F U N D R A I S E R

Ket Bradshaw our amazing Coordinator embarked on the 2024 Sound to Sounds bike packing event from Marlborough to the Milford Sound. She began her trip 26th Feb and finished 14th March 2024. She biked through many South Island iconic landscapes that are threatened by wilding pines. She used this journey as an opportunity to raise awareness about the impact of wilding pines and her charity of choice is SMLRT. She raised over $1160 !! AMAZING

Link to the Facebook page to check out Kets Journey

The money raised will go towards our very important volunteer programme to help with resources such as tools, vehicles and hiking equipment.

On her journey Ket caught up and interviewed a number of Wilding pine enthusiasts and Environment groups: click HERE to watch the interviews: Jim Ward, James Guild, Vivianne Smith-Campbell and Richard Bowman.

UPDATE OF SMLRT PROGRESS ……IT’S BEEN BUSY!

We have completed the 2023/24  operation programme with the exception of some ground work and final aerial "wash up" by the end of May 2024.

Following a meeting with MPI, MDC has indicated they will contract SMLRT to provide our management services again in 2024/25.  This is great news! Well done to Andrew Withers, Margret, Ket and Team.

By a stroke of luck we have been fortunate to find an expert mapping whizz. His work is just what we need and for the first time we can see how we can tackle the Leatham, especially the Top Leatham and its seed rain spewing into the Saxton. (Top Leatham, Gordons and Barbers) threatening the Molesworth and Waihopai Management Units.

Each year we also prepare a report for our major supporter the Rata Foundation who we couldn’t have done the extensive work the last 2 years without. With their support we have managed to put in over 1000 hours volunteer work on and around the Raglan Range/Branch Leatham to combat the suffocating spread of wilding pines.

Ket our coordinator not only took on the Sounds2Sounds bike ride BUT also managed to write a paper for the NZ Institute of Forestry Journal (Aotearoa New Zealand’s forest industry holds the key to more funding and action on wilding pines)- its a great reference tool and insight and definitely worth a read when its published! Congratulations Ket!

Let’s us know what else you would like to hear or be updated about!

info@marlboroughrestoration.org.nz

www.marlboroughrestoration.org.nz