Here is the Friends of Flora (FoF) newsletter sent to keep you in touch with our work of bringing the birdsong back to the Flora.

AGM We had our annual AGM last month, during which our standing committee were renominated, with the exception of Dave Wilson who was standing down. Bill Boxall was nominated to stand in his place, accepted and was duly appointed. Thank you Dave for your valuable contribution. Cathy Jones, a DoC botanist from Nelson, gave a most informative talk after the meeting about ‘plant connections’.
At our first committee meeting for the new year, we had our election of officers.

Thanks! Our long standing Chairman – Chris Potter has stood down from this position. On behalf of all FoF volunteers, members and supporters, we would like to take this opportunity to thank Chris for all his work in this position over the past 5 years. As Bill Rooke said at the AGM, FoF was a bunch of raggle taggle friends and family until Chris came along and pulled it all together!
Mind you – we aren’t losing Chris – he is remaining as a valuable member of our committee.

Our Committee The members of our committee are as follows:
Chair – Maryann Ewers
Secretary – Bill Rooke
Treasurer – Ivan Rogers
Chris Potter
Peter Adams
Mike Bannock
Philip Lissaman
Andy Woodall
Bill Boxall

Although not on the committee, our gear officer, Dave (Titch) Klement, has agreed to continue looking after and resupplying our FoF shed. Which is always kept in exemplary condition.

A note from Committee This is for all group leaders. If any leader has a new volunteer on his/her line, can you please submit their name, email and phone number, and their capabilities - for line allocation, to Peter Adams - phone 03 528 4664.

Pokies fund P line! Readers of the last FoF newsletter may have come to the conclusion that the Lions, a community service club, funded our new P Line traps. They were in fact funded by the Lion Foundation which is one of several charitable trusts operating gaming machines (pokies) in pubs and clubs outside of casinos. Their stated aim is to ‘maximise returns to communities’ and create an ‘environment for responsible gaming’. Did you know all pokies go back to the community or to the government as GST and excise? Last year the Lion Foundation funded community project applications to the tune of $54 million.

Mistletoes returning to the Flora – by Philip Lissaman FoF com member Members of FoF have recently ‘sown the seed’ of the recovery of beech mistletoes in the wider Flora catchment, a goal identified in the FoF 5-year plan.
The beech mistletoes require a combination of conditions to survive – plentiful healthy host trees which they parasitise, good possum control, and plentiful tui and bellbirds for pollination of flowers. All these conditions now apply in the Flora. Two species have been seeded on their respective host beech trees down the Flora valley. Some of the seeds were kindly provided by Roger Gaskell of DoC. Scarlet mistletoe seed (Peraxilla colensoi) was placed on small branches of silver beech, while seed of the yellow mistletoe (Alepis flavida) was placed near the tips of branches of black beech. Fortunately the seeds come with their own glue.
The ideal in both cases is to sow on small branches (5 – 8mm thick), that are growing vigorously, and clean of lichen etc. Both species prefer branches on the sunny side of trees, which should have good light for the next 20 years. The beech mistletoes are rare for another very good reason – the survival rate of seedlings is very low. The sown seeds will be monitored, with more to be added in future years. A central record will be kept of their progress, in consultation with DoC.
This is a small start to a recovery plan that we hope will in time restore these distinctive plants, with their brilliant flowers, to their rightful niche in the ecology of the Flora.

May pest stats The pest kill for May 2007 was:
Stoats - 7 (398)
Rats – 32 (1333)
Mice – 7 (802)
Possums – 3 (281)

Our May last years total was: 2 stoats, 52 rats, 4 mice and 11 possums.

Safety in the bush Further to our survival message in last months newsletter, this month we are talking about locator beacons, mountain radios and first aid kits.
All Friends of Flora leaders carry a first aid kit, and they have a current first aid certificate, which must be renewed every two years.

Beacons
There are a range of beacons one can hire or buy for personal safety in the bush. The most common one has been the old analogue technology in the FME MT300 beacon (EPIRB), but it is being phased out by February 1 2009. In its place is the 406 MHz, which is a digital beacon and is far more accurate than the MT300. Each has an ID code that is linked to the owner’s details, which can be sent to Search & Rescue authorities, and can be used worldwide.

Mountain radios
The mountain radio is quite a heavy and cumbersome thing to carry around with you, but the advantages of this over a beacon, is that you can be in personal speaking contact with base, if needed. There is a regular sched time each evening for users to check the weather conditions in their particular area, and forward on any messages they may have. These can be hired by the NZ mountain radio service in your area.

First aid kit
It is important to always carry a first aid kit when in the bush. Unless you have specific needs, just a basic first aid kit brought at your local chemist or supermarket is adequate. For safety reasons it is important for all people tramping in the bush to have completed a first aid course.

Just repeating the Mountain Safety Council’s website from last month’s newsletter: http://www.mountainsafety.org.nz/

That’s all for this month.
Maryann Ewers (on behalf of Ivan Rogers – who will be back to continue the newsletter next month)
FoF Committee