Thursday, 16th October, 2025 and we've finally been able to get around to planting on the paddock above Cambridge RDA (Riding for the Disabled.) They don't use it any more, as the land is positively soggy, and the Council asked us to plant it rather than have their mower struggle to mow it and get stuck in the process. It's late for planting, but we're relying on the copious water supply to keep the plants in good health over the summer.

We'll continue planting even though it's late in the year. The plentiful water supply will keep the plants healthy over summer and the Cambridge RDA paddock will look a picture as walkers come past it on the track from Payne Park to Te Awa path along the riverbank.

Tuesday 21st October 2025

We're back at the paddock that Riding for the Disabled used to use, finishing off the initial planting there. It was done in very short order, since we had a good turnout, then we went back to the nursery for a fairly early morning tea.

The plover had gone, but the pukeko were prowling. Rabbit holes were plentiful too. We think we've planted things that are unpalatable to rabbits. Let's hope so. We've provided rabbits with lunch before, and don't want to do it again.

Thursday 23rd October 2025

We took a chance on the forecast rain and planted the sprayed areas at the Cambridge RDA planting where we were on Tuesday. There were a dozen of us, so the work was done very quickly and we packed up just as a light drizzle started.

There is more to be done, and there is so much water around that we'll be able to plant for another month. There's even a little stream trickling across the field.

However, future work depends on finding a spray that will deal with convolvulus. There is no point whatever in planting without dealing with the convolvulus first.

This week 10th and 12th of February 2026, we worked at Payne Park and around the corner at the ex-RDA paddock. The big problem here is buttercup growing in the middle of the carex plants. It is very hard to get out. We do what we can, and we're investigating sprays. The paddock ex RDA will be overrun by convolvulus if we're not careful, and we're investigating spray for that too. The Council's mower helps to keep it down, but it's better if we can eliminate it.

On Tuesday 17th February, 2026 we did some more planting here and cut down some privet. The plants are growing rapidly, and so are the ivy, blackberry and convolvulus. There is still plenty of water in the little streamlet that runs down from the hillside, so the plants will not go thirsty.

Thursday, 7th May 2026.

We're doing some more planting at RDA. The digging becomes easier as we go down the hill. The roading debris is on a heap at the top. It's a big heap, so we had a lot of trouble. We put a few more plants into the bottom planting by the swamp, just to fill in the space. We were finished by 10:30, in more ways than one for some of us, and morning tea was welcome

Roll on several months, and on 27th August 2026 we took advantage of very early Spring weather to extend our planting here. The land is boggy and the Council's mower operator still has to settle the extent of his mowing. When he has, we'll plant accordingly.

Today we put in assorted native trees, mostly cordyline. Later, we'll put in more flaxes. they divide easily and we have a lot of them. They're ideal for the wet conditions here.