Pathmaking
The previously-mown kikuyu path dividing the island planting from the manuka and manuka/kanuka forest margins has been narrowed to .3-.5mW by the pull-back removal of kikuyu from both sides. As the path was unusable from mid-June due to slipperiness and bogginess after heavy rain, there has been no loss of amenity from this.
This narrower path has been covered with the small amount of woody material to hand so far, mostly dead manuka branches brought from the canopy, to make it non-slip and smooth enough to walk on. An effort was made to site this on level ground, but there is none, although parts of the path appeared level previously, perhaps due to an increased depth of thick springy kikuyu on the downhill side.
Woody material continues to be added as time and materials permit, forming a non-slip, low-impact, rain-permeable surface, reducing soil compaction and erosion and maintaining maximum continuity of habitat.
The ongoing demolition of a large Pampas clump at the Clearing end of the Island planting has provided Pampas foliage and tussock bases for use as an upper surface to the path .
Eventually this path may become robust enough for long-term for site maintenance, monitoring and viewing of the Trial site by visitors, if top-up woody debris and/or dead pampas are applied as needed and jogging or cycling do not occur.
If additional manuka brush and/or dead pampas are available and need disposing of, they could be used in Gahnia Grove for this purpose.
NB We avoid dead pampas remaining on site in the former of whole tussocks, as wasps frequently nest in the dry tussock bases. Information would be appreciated re any progress in Kaipatiki wasp-baiting programmes and results within Eskdale Reserve.
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