Otamahua/Quail Island Ecological Restoration Trust.

Volunteer Programme - 2009

For the last ten years the Trust has been reliant on the good work of hundreds of volunteers from Diamond Harbour, Lyttelton and the Christchurch Metropolitan area. In that time over 60,000 trees and shrubs have been planted over an area of 25 hectares.

The work is carried out on the first and third Sundays of each month during late spring, summer and autumn. The work is moderately strenuous and consists mainly of grubbing thistles and removing exotic weed species (gorse, broom, boneseed and others) that have germinated around our planting areas. This years planting programme starts on Saturday 1st August and will continue for every weekend day until 23rd September.

Health and Safety regulations for volunteer workers require us to have a list of volunteer workers on each trip available for the ferry master. The information we are required to have is for safety reasons only and will not be passed on to anyone else.

When you register for the first time for a trip we need Name, Surname, Address, Contact ph., Emergency contact person and their phone. A number of you have provided this info already - thanks. It will be easier to get it now than having to hassle you on the wharf! You can register by email or telephone. Once we have you on our database you will receive an invitation to join us about a week before each trip.

This year our workday organizer is Ian McLennan. You can contact him at id.mclennan@xtra.co.nz or by phone: 384 5338. Include the information outlined in the box below.

The ferry leaves from the 'Black Cat' wharf (follow the yellow painted footprints from the top of the main overbridge) about 9.20 am-so try to be there by 9.10. Bring warm clothes, boots or lace-up footwear, (jandals are not suitable), (leggings are useful in summer months particularly if you don’t enjoy your ankles being spiked by grass seeds) and wind/ waterproof jacket, gardening gloves. Tools are provided. Bring a substantial lunch -I usually take a thermos of soup, filled rolls, muesli bars, chocolate or biscuits and fruit. A water bottle is handy but the island water supply is the same as supplied to Christchurch.

Due to the changeability of the weather at this time of the year, the physical nature of a six hour working day and the lack of suitable shelter the Trustees have decided not to accept registration of children under the age of 12 years of age. A special event children’s planting day will be held on September 13th, 12.30 - 3.30pm. Registration for this event is essential through ihmacd@paradise.net.nz.

The planting programme goes on regardless of the weather. The only thing that prevents it is the inability of the ferry to make the journey safely! This does NOT mean you must turn up because your name is down on the list. We expect the exercise to be rewarding, recreational, social and fun.

We leave you to decide whether or not working for 6 hours on a windswept island in the middle of winter comes within your definition of "fun". 

Keep those bookings rolling in, 

Ian and Bev MacDonald

Health and Safety Info:

First Name _______________________________________________

Surname __________________________________________________

Contact Phone ____________________________________________

Email ____________________________________________________

Emergency ________________________________________________

Phone ____________________________________________________