The May Friends Weeding ecotour has just finished… and what a wonderful week it was. Perfect weather and 22 people along enjoyed assisting the Lord Howe Island Board with the weed eradication program. The group stayed at Oceanview and greatly appreciated the hospitality provided. Visiting the different restaurants at night to sample the various food was welcomed after a day working and walking.
At a request from the Board, this group worked on four leases assisting with garden weeds that could escape and spread into the native vegetation. The highlight of the lease visits being helping Jack and Cindy Shick plant around 400 native plants in their lease restoration project. After this was finished, Jack and Cindy invited all back to their house for a tea and coffee.
The group members also visited a few sites that are long term Friends areas – Edie’s Glen and the forest above Middle Beach. This is essential to have the long term activity to ensure the native forest gets back to out-compete the weeds.
Some good afternoon walks were done … Malabar, Boat Harbour, New Gulch and Old Gulch, Transit Hill and a lovely low tide reef walk at Ned’s Beach. A visit to North Bay revealed that the Coastal morning glory Ipomoea cairica has gone rampant and will need a strong input of expertise and funding urgently.
Something different for the trip was that two ABC journalists from Mid North Coast were on the Island for the week to do a number of Island stories. The two joined the Friends on some activities and meals; and they covered the Friends activities, with a number of Friends members interviewed. Stories will be aired over the next few months on regional radio and TV.
On the scheduled last night of the tour the Friends AGM was held at the museum, and a new was committee elected. Following the AGM the LHI Board CEO Suzie Christensen and the Flora Officer Nicola Fuller came down to the Museum and over drinks thanked the Friends for their ongoing efforts.
Saturday when everyone was due to fly out, strong winds and rain came across the island and all flights were cancelled. Our tour members ended up staying until Monday or Tuesday when the weather settled and flights were able to come in. A small number of people carried out some Sea Spurge removal on Lagoon Beach on the delayed days.
And the week was a good opportunity for our Friends members to meet up with people in the community. Over the past twenty five years the Friends of Lord Howe Island have become part of the community and many friendships have been made.
Anyone wishing to join the August weed tour needs to book with Shelly at Oxley Travel by 21 June.
Email: shelly@oxleytravel.com.au
Phone: 1800 671 546
A PDF dairy of the trip was recorded,
and can be downloaded and viewed here: