Neville mows the lawn

We are in the process of planting the stretch of reserve between the Waikato Expressway and the swale that drains the housing development next door. The idea is to abolish mowing. Unfortunately, the plants take a while to grow, and while they are doing so, the grass needs to be mown. Neville has shown great skill in using a ride-on mower, and here he is for us all to see. This footage was taken on February 1, 2022.

Here be Tygers

Well, not just yet. On Thursday, 25th August 2025, we went back to the swale beside the expressway and continued to clear the plants for the spray team. We finished the northern end of the planting, but there's still about 50 metres left at the southern end.

At the northern end there is an older planting put in by either the developer of the housing on the other side of the swale, or by the Council. It has grown enough to shade out most weeds and indicates what our planting will be like in a few years time. It's pretty well impenetrable tiger country. The motorcyclists' well-used track makes a roundabout just in front of it. They can't get through it either. Click on the photos to enlarge them.