So far this year, the 12 tamariki who are completing the William Pike Challenge Award (WPCA) have completed 45 hours of service in our community.

By the end of the year, they will have donated 240 hours of their time to local projects!

Community Service is an important part of the WPCA and it is both challenging and rewarding for our students. Over the past two years, one of the projects the Pikelets from MPS have become involved with are the monthly working bees at the Drayton Reserve. Never heard of it?? I always knew of it as Hidden Valley (but it's entirely possible I made that name up...), this area is accessible by walking tracks from Drayton Drive and Avery Place. 

The group is facilitated by an enthusiastic group to plant and care for native trees and wildlife in order to restore the Reserve to its former glory, especially for the local community. Remember, it has been scientifically proven that spending time in a natural environment such as Drayton Reserve will improve your health, happiness and creativity! On ANZAC Day, under the 'Serve for NZ' scheme, Isla, Kiera, Andie and I met up with 20 other volunteers to clear the bottom track from Glenstrae Rd and up to Omeo Crescent. 

We were mostly cutting out fennel, with some satisfying holes dug to remove the root systems. If you want to get involved, they have their mid-month Sunday working bee at 2pm on the 14th May, meeting at the (upper) Waterfall Lookout. The weather forecast is sunny and they hope to clear and mulch weeds in preparation for planting new seedlings, or transplant self-sown seedlings into cleared areas. The pest trapping is continuing and this week they were surprised to catch two weasels that would have been devastating on the birdlife. There is also an upcoming insect survey!  

See the report attached for contact details and further information about all the good work happening in our very own backyard!