From May 25th to June 1st the Friends of Lord Howe Island ran another successful weeding ecotour to assist the LHI Board with the Island weed eradication program. Eighteen people came along and enjoyed a week contributing to conservation, and enjoying exploring the Island.

The group worked on removing weeds from areas behind Middle Beach, in Steven’s Reserve, on Lagoon beaches removing Sea spurge, on Intermediate Hill removing Crofton weed with LHI Board environmental staff, and an afternoon assisting Jack and Cindy Shick with their revegetation project. Throughout the week, tour members also enjoyed the Island, with a day at North Bay, as well as walks to Malabar, Boat Harbour, Little Island and a low tide walk at Ned’s Beach.

An extra activity for this trip was participating in a film project with a Tasmanian film group Silver Power. The producers, Lara van Raay and Roslyn Walker, are making a larger documentary around Australia showcasing retiree volunteers helping in the environment. As the Friends of LHI have a long history of achieving conservation over 30 years, this was their first location and will open the program when it is put together and screened on television. A focus for the segment was the story of Ian Sinclair and John Pemble, who have been coming on the weeding trips since 2009 and held their wedding on a Friends’ weeding trip. Camera operator Fred Olivier very much enjoyed filming the Friends’ activities as well as the Island scenery.

The group enjoyed the island hospitality, staying at Oceanview and dining at the various restaurants. On the last evening Krissy Ward from the LHI Board thanked the tour members at a farewell function held in the museum.

Featured image (above): The Friends helping Jack and Cindy Shick