Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand

Mahoe Reserve provides educational opportunities for the local and wider community. Originally initiated by Lincoln High School Year 9 students in 2002, the reserve has been developed as a living classroom where students of schools and their friends and families have the opportunity to participate in a regeneration project.

Children from local pre-schools, Scouts and Primary School have been involved in planting days, while large numbers of students from Lincoln High School have volunteered their time. Those involved become more aware of environmental issues such as biodiversity and sustainability. Environmental organisations are encouraged to be involved in a range of science-based activities such as researching changes to plant, bird, reptile and invertebrate communities.

“I will have to bring my children and grand-children here?

says one of the students.

Ecology

The Reserve is now well into its planting program, with a focus on local native plant species to provide suitable habitat for birds, lizards and insects. As the plants grow they will provide animal species with food and shelter towards a functioning ecosystem.

In the meantime to support and encourage colonisation of the reserve some help will be given to ‘kick start’ the habitat by using artificial refuges. Wooden discs, weta motels, and lizard lodges will be placed throughout the reserve to provide safe refuges from predators, to encourage population colonisation and to increase biodiversity.

An area of interest and future research is to consider the small things that matter, the invertebrates. Although invertebrates make up the greatest biodiversity on earth (>95%), they are often the forgotten fauna despite their key ecological roles in the ecosystem (e.g. nutrient cycling, aeration of the soil, seed dispersal, pollination, etc.) People rarely observe their diversity and beauty because many invertebrate are small.

Although the Mahoe Reserve is being restored with native plant species it is important to recognise the contribution of some introduced species in the area such as blue gum and Banksia. These provide both shelter for native seedlings and a food source for visiting nectar feeders such as bellbirds. The introduced exotic trees will be gradually removed from the Reserve as the native plants get more established.

Pest Management

The introduction of mammalian predators to New Zealand since human settlement, has seen many native species become extinct. Cats, mustelids (stoats, weasels and ferrets), rats, possums and hedgehogs are well established throughout the Canterbury plains, including Lincoln township. These species eat eggs, young, and adult birds as well as invertebrate and lizards.

For native species to re-colonise and survive in restored areas such as Mahoe Reserve we must provide protection from these predators.

Tracking tunnels (below) can be used to monitor the presence of predators within the reserve. These have an ink pad in the middle and blank cardboard at each end. They are baited with peanut butter to attract the predators, which walk across the ink and leave their prints behind.

If evidence suggests there is a risk to the native flora or fauna then appropriate methods will be used to reduce predator populations to a low or undetectable level. Small traps that exclude other animals would be used for mice, rats and stoats. Hedgehogs and possums can be caught in live capture traps and moved to another location away from the Reserve.

Cats are known to eat insects, lizards, and birds and in urban environments such as Lincoln Township, domestic cats may prey on fauna within the reserve. However, as we know, cats also eat rats and mice, so having them in the neighborhood may assist us in our pest control efforts. Cat owners need not be concerned as NO TRAPS will be used that target cats. 

Due to its proximity to Lincoln Township and schools, NO ANIMAL POISONS will be used inside Mahoe Reserve.

 

Education

Interpretation plaques provide visitors with an understanding of the complex ecological relationships that exist in New Zealand's natural indigenous forests and restored urban sites. This awareness is important for the long-term survival of many species in highly modified environments like Canterbury.

For example the New Zealand native pigeon, or kereru, currently threatened by habitat loss and under pressure from mammalian predators, play a key role in balancing forest ecosystems. As a disperser of large seeds such as karaka, tawa and kohekohe, their presence is essential to maintain seedling regeneration. As a result of habitat modification Kereru have also been impacted by limited food supply.

New Zealand native flax and Kowhai provide essential energy supplies in the form of nectar to bellbird, tui and waxeye. These and many other plant species are highly regarded by Maori for medicinal and traditional resource use. 

The Mahoe Reserve is a model restoration site for the community, providing inspiration to achieve a wider aim; to link regenerating native areas and corridors together to improve suitable habitat and increase biodiversity.

 

Tracking tunnel and ink pad used to monitoring and examples of prints found (right)