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A recent arrival to Baddeleys Beach, Jon Hoyle, has replaced Ngaire Wallen as the Takatu Landcare community pest control coordinator.
Hoyle moved north from Wellington three months ago.
“I’ve spent the last four-and-a-half years working in local government in the Wellington region – a significant part of this time working on projects aimed at protecting and enhancing native biodiversity on private land,” he says.
“Much of this work revolved around project planning and working with landowners, funders and conservation groups just like Takatu Landcare.”
Interestingly, Hoyle says he shot possums and sold pelts as a teenager, and has had some experience with trapping in recent years.
“I’m now in the process of sharpening up those trapping skills.”
Takatu Landcare setup about 10 years ago to trap pest animals, remove invasive weeds and monitor birdlife to see if its work was making a difference.
The group has coordinated and supported the development of a network of traps for possums, stoats and rats. The aim is to provide a protective buffer for the wildlife at Tawharanui Open Sanctuary, making the entire peninsular a safer place for native wildlife.
Hoyle says the group is moving into a new, ambitious and exciting phase.
“Earlier in the year, we commissioned an ecological survey of the peninsular to identify sites of ecological importance, with the potential to restore and expand these important habitats. Planting and weed and pest animal eradication will create a patchwork of safe zones for birds to move safely across the peninsula.
“We are now in the planning stages of restoring a pilot block, with work expected to start this summer.”
Hoyle says Wallen and the landcare group have done an outstanding job building and supporting an important and effective conservation community.
“Native plants and animals are in a perilous state nationally.
“By restoring and expanding areas of native bush on the peninsula, we’ll further support native fauna, as well as increasing carbon absorption and contributing to climate change mitigation.
“Our geographic area is 99 per cent privately owned land, so the group’s achievements have relied on the engagement, cooperation and support of the landowners. The new restoration work will be dependent on continuing this collaboration, as well as the ongoing support of hard-working volunteers and the wider community.
“Personally, I’m thrilled to be part of a such an ecologically important and rewarding project.”
