"Progress Castlecliff Inc is the weedbusting group tackling the invasive plants of the Castlecliff Coastal Reserve at Wanganui. In early 2005 Progress Castlecliff Inc sought a mandate from the Wanganui District Council to allow them to undertake enhancement work of the reserve using groups of volunteers. To assist Progress Castlecliff Inc in their desire to enhance the reserve through weed removal, planting of suitable species and track formation an oversight team was pulled together including staff from DOC, Horizons Regional Council, and the Wanganui District Council.

Work commenced mid 2005 and initially the oversight team met and discussed:

Where in the reserve of ¡Ö 35ha should the work begin? High profile with best chance of success.

What would the initial work entail? Removal of highest priority plants, contain and chemical treatment of Maderia vine area. Establish good work practices.

When could the work be done? Weekdays, weekends?

Who was going to fund any monies required? Seeking funding from trusts and territorial agencies.

The process has been a great learning curve for all those involved. Volunteers can now identify what is an invasive plant and what is a desirable native struggling to survive. The oversight team has also ironed out a suitable methodology and learnt some of the ins and outs of managing volunteer groups. Currently it has evolved to Progress Castlecliff Inc organizing twice-weekly days of weeding and clearing, then burning or mulching of plants. The aim is to bite off areas to clear over the dryer months, prepare them for planting, and plant out natives during late autumn and winter.

The site has numerous difficulties. It is a very windy site, obviously dry and sandy and without the ability to control public access. Most of the plant species that are being removed are difficult to control and will require longterm management to get on top of them. The predominant species are Acacia longifolia, boxthorn, saltbush, and madiera vine. There are numerous garden escapees present in the reserve, from innocuous alyssm colonies to large specimens of the invasive evergreen buckthorn, Japanese spindle tree, and ginger. Owing to the special requirements of the site Progress Castlecliff Inc has adopted a methodology of working with nature rather than over-riding nature to obtain a desirable outcome. Examples of this attitude are when some of the existing ¡®undesirable¡¯ vegetation is left to function as a temporary shelter for plantings and track areas, and also potting-up of native species that have been able to self-seed and proven they are hardy enough for the climate.

Another aspect of Progress Castlecliff Inc¡¯s work has been to include school groups in the project. This has included a pingao planting day at two sites in the reserve and a school has been organized to grow-on the seedlings that have been recovered before the invasive species were removed. Progress Castlecliff Inc really want the schoolchildren to have ownership of the plantings so they become aware of the important role plants have in forming our landscapes and their ability to alter the environment."

Craig Davey, Horizons Regional Council (nominator)