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Backdrop Trust Update

2022This spring has seen considerable progress towards our goal of getting rid of the wilding pines, not only on the Backdrop Trust land, but on as much of the land directly across the harbour from Whitianga township as we can.  While some of this work will be dependant on ongoing funding being available, we can report on what has either happened or is happening right now.Stage one was completed in August, and that saw the pines cut down on half of the Backdrop Trust. Luckily these pines ar...

Irrigation

It has been a long time coming, but our new irrigation system is finally complete, and just in time for the summer!  The team at the MBET would like to thank everyone who helped us get this up and running, especially to our friends Andrea and Matt from TCDC for showing us how the system works and helping us to set it up....

The Back Drop Trust Project

After a couple of years of working behind the scenes- planning, liaising, organising- it is very exciting to announce the Back Drop Trust Project has reached a significant milestone. As of August 1st 2022, the pine eradication has commenced! Within the same week, MBET has ventured in, to a separate part of the bush, to plant native trees too. All the while, over the last few months, pest control has also begun and getting many hits.It is awesome to have the hardworking team at Second Nature Ltd....

Dune Restoration

We at MBET have long been supporters and strong advocates for the dune restoration projects that Coastcare undertakes on the Coromandel Peninsula. Coastcare is a collaboration between the Thames Coromandel District Council, and the Waikato Regional Council. They provide plants, expertise and at the moment, one full time Coastal Restoration co-ordinator, who among other things, aligns all the components that go into making a successful dune planting happen. MBET works closely with this co-ordinat...

Autumnal abundance

As the summer heat slowly leaves us and the days begin to shorten, the growing plants have been flourishing throughout the early stages of Autumn. With sunny days, cooler nights and dewy mornings, the nursery is a lush panoply of green. Autumn is also the time for many of New Zealand’s native flora to fruit, so it is the optimal season for collecting seeds. Kim and I have been heading off on many bush walks lately, collecting various seeds to sow. It is great fun being able to explore through ...

Sowing seeds, sprouting minds

A large part of what MBET was founded upon and what it continues to stand for is sprouting the minds of the younger generations. Giving them an opportunity to learn, grow, and gain valuable experience within a field that they feel passionate about; environmental conservation.  As a 25-year-old Kūaotunu local who is keen to get out in nature and make a significant contribution to the environment I live in, I was stoked to have been put in touch with Kim and offered the opportunity to join t...

Alicia

Many of you will know that the Mercury Bay Environmental Trust grew out of the Coromandel Outdoor Language Centre. When the School closed, we didn't really know what was next, but we did know that we didn’t want the environmental projects, that we had been working on for seven years, to close down as well. Alicia Lose, a past student who was working for us at the school at that time, shared that sentiment and together we decided to find a way to keep the good work happening. Together we did th...

Collecting Dune Plant Seeds

At this time of the year our thoughts turn to seed collection, and the first group of plants we deal with are those from the sand dunes. We collect seeds from several dune plants but the biggest job is for Spinifex (Spinifex sericeus)....

New Nursery

Ever since we started growing native plants our nursery’s been in my back yard, and over time as we have grown this has become less and less practical.  About 9 months ago we were invited to have a look at a piece of land in town as a possible site for a new nursery.This was the site as we saw it that day, but immediately it’s potential was obvious to us. Flat and not too public, this was a site we could work with.  There was clearly a lot of work to do as the site was covered with...