Marlborough East Coast Protection Group

Eleven students from years 9 to 12 worked together to improve the biodiversity of the East Coast on the 11th of September. In this collaboration between Marlborough Boys’ College, Marlborough District Council and the East Coast Protection Group (ECPG), over 800 trees were planted at Te Karaka/Cape Campbell, to help with restoration of the sand dune, which has degraded over time with exotic weeds. The students learned about restoration of the sand dunes and some of the taonga species that live there. They saw threatened banded dotterels on a nest and rare katipō spiders. A special thanks to the students, ECPG member Hazel Monk, Adrian Withers and parents that volunteered their time to make a difference in this special area. If anyone missed out on this occasion, this is part of a programme to plant over 3000 trees each year on the East Coast, that we hope to continue to be part of in years to come. Email or see any of the staff involved: Matua Michael Harvey, Whaea Sally Withers or Matua Mark Anderson.

Mark Anderson | Teacher of Science/Biology

"Kia Ora John,

I'm writing to let you know how wonderful the group of college boys were last Sunday, helping with our restoration of both the landscape and the habitat for wildlife along our Limestone Coast.

They were motivated and led by Mark Anderson, (supported by Sally Withers and another science teacher) to give up a day of their weekend to do this work and did a great job. Super to have the college van to get them there, (well- most of the way. We transferred to 4WD vehicles as the farm track to the Cape Campbell Lighthouse was damaged in the recent heavy rains!)

The East Coast Protection Group (ECPG) was set up 5 years ago and is trapping predators of endangered seabirds and geccko, monitoring the wildlife along this coastal stretch and protecting the fragile habitat and limestone landscape. Your college boys are playing a role in this mahi and we're extremely proud to have them join in. looking at what predators have been/ are being caught the wooden trap boxes that they helped construct in Technology classes.

We hope that we can get other college students out to the East Coast (Marfell's Beach south past Cape Campbell to the Ure (Waima) river, some time in the future, in some capacity. Our local wildlife and wild places need our youth as they are the adults of the future. Our small group, the East Coast Protection Group is very grateful for their input and support from your staff. Please pass on our thanks.

I have attached some pics that you may like, taken on the day."

Kind regards,

Hazel Monk

Secretary

Marlborough East Coast Protection Group (Inc)