STEPS St Lukes Environmental Protection Society
Region: Auckland
Contact Person: Nick Goldwater
Email: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Profile
STEPS (St Lukes Environmental Protection Society) is based in Mt Albert, where we have focused on the restoration of Meola Creek, particularly the upper reaches. Over the past seven years or so we have planted and weeded just about the entire reach that flows adjacent to Mt Albert Grammar School, including some of the adjacent rock forest habitat. We have also restored a previously abandoned area of flooded wasteland into a lovely wetland (on the true right side of the creek).
In terms of weeds, we have actively controlled species such as kikuyu (which threatened to smother many of our plantings), blue morning glory, tradescantia, and mature crack willow trees. Willow weed was the dominant weed in the wetland, but through the efforts of contractors and our own people, we’ve managed to knock it back significantly.
Weeds are now less of a concern given that many of the native plants have reached canopy closure, making them much more resistant to light-demanding species, particularly exotic grasses.