RECAP

Kia ora!

We just discovered that the Winter Pruning Workshop had closed it's registrations (a boo boo on our end).

If you were keen to join us, and found that you couldn't, you can now do so at recap.org.nz.

Apologies for the inconvenience.

Now you just have to pray to your deity of choice that the weather is good...

We had a wonderful couple of hours at McCrae’s Bush this morning planting 40 more native trees in an opening near River Road. A massive ngā mihi to the 9 students from Ashhurst School and the 3 parents (or spawn points as the kid’s say) for their mahi. Mihi also to Harvey and Julie and to Dave for growing and donating the trees. Mihi also to Leanne - who owns our local ice cream truck who came down and surprised the kids with a treat. And a final mihi to the grown ups who got said ice cream truck out of the mud 😄

A fun, funny and rewarding morning.

Members of the Ashhurst School senior garden club dug up the very first kumara we grew for the school hangi in our new garden area. We started the tipu late last year, so the kids got to see the full cycle of growing kumara.

A reminder that the RECAP AGM is on this evening from 7:30pm at the Village Valley Centre in Ashhurst.

We’ll be sharing some supper, electing our board, and discussing the past year’s activities and what we have planned for the next.

All are welcome to attend.

We can attest to this!

Many swear by gardening as a mood booster - does the evidence back this? Any amount of gardening can be good for your mental health and wellbeing, psychologists say.

A huge ngā mihi to Phil Stevens for the Solar Seminar yesterday. At 48 attendees, this was our second most popular workshop - ever! Great questions from the crowd, too.

We did this last in 2021. Is this something that you want us to offer more frequently?

Look at this giant rampicante squash!

Today we celebrated the lovely Julie Doyle at the Volunteer Central volunteer recognition morning.

Julie is the lead kaitiaki of the ‘friends of McCrae’s’ volunteer group.

McCrae's Bush is an area of remnant native bush and wetlands that RECAP volunteers have been caring for since 2016

Julie joined this volunteer group in 2019 and also served as a board member for RECAP between 2000 and 2022.

In early 2025, many of the long serving volunteers stepped back and Julie found herself in the position of leading the team. There is now a new group of weekly volunteers who are working tirelessly to hand w**d many of the invasives (avoiding using damaging chemicals as much as possible). The group have planted out areas in new natives, and they look after the baby trees and plants that are popping up naturally throughout the bush.

She has led groups of local tamariki, student volunteers and workplace groups in working bees, always including a walk through the area and some education on the trees and plants.

The work has not only helped the local flora, but many native birds also call this bush home with fledgling ruru recently delighting local walkers and photographers.

Her dedication to this very special place is inspiring and her mahi has ensured the health of this wonderful thriving green space for our community (both present and future) to enjoy.

📸 Julie and fellow volunteer Phillip Prujean

The Crop Swap is on this Saturday 11am-1pm at the Ashhurst library.

Come down for some soup and cake and peruse what others in your community have to offer.

You do not need to give in order to take and everything if free.

We have something special coming up.

Hayden Foulds (president of the Manawatū Rose Society and recent president of the NZ Rose Society) is visiting Ashhurst to prune the newly installed rose garden in the Ashhurst Triangle (across from the library) and we invite you to pop down with some gardening gloves and a pair of secateurs to learn from a local master.

Hayden is a highly accomplished rosarian, having gotten his start as a student at Ashhurst School!

This is a free workshop, with no registration needed. Saturday June 27th 1pm. Pop it in your diary.