Conservation's Cool!

The school year has started well. Bernie is doing the same job as last year, but now has a permanent contract rather than an ad hoc arrangement, which gives her more stability to plan her week and obvious security (and regular money!) The work is not too stimulating, but she enjoys being part of the school community and works with senior management - who can be as trying as the kids by the sounds of it!

My classes are all good, my Conservation group are the most interesting for me. I have essentially invented a course (you have the freedom to do that here!) and the students will complete 5 projects through the year which earn them credits. Its not all credit farming though - we have already been to a sanctuary, 5 mins outside Nelson, which was never slashed and burnt. There is a project underway to put a fence around the 500 hectare virgin site before all pests are trapped within and then native species of animals are released. My group of students and I will keep visiting the sanctuary to help with making traps, weeding and planting native plants to help the project along.

This is the visitors building:



And these are some of the rare natives which will be released when the fence and trapping are complete (some time in 2012 hopefully). Native geckos:



The worlds largest parrot (flightless), the Kakapo. There are now just over 100 of these alive (in the world!), all on 2 islands in the south of the South Island - we'll be the first to have these on the mainland!

Kakariki (crowned parakeets) which are less rare, but I've never seen one:

And of course Kiwi. They will be allowed to populate the sanctuary and then over years, some will be released into the wider area outside the park:

Other rare birds such as the saddleback which are also only found on a few islands will be released:

Plus my favourite slouch - the Tuatara. These have been around, unchanged for 200 million years! We have seen one (on a pest-free island), they don't move all day - they simply wait for prey to walk right in front of their nose before snapping them up - very slow metabolisms... nobody knows how long they live for (well over 100 years!):

I teach normal classes too, plus horticulture to some Seniors (they are looking forward to the unit where we study and use hydroponics for some reason!), but its great to be able to get involved in some great conservation projects. Each student has to come up with their own project in Nelson, liaising with the council, local Maori people and businesses. We're also going to visit a pest-free island as part of a field trip where there are several other rare native species...

On top of school life, B is cooking many wonderful things, from chocolate brownies, to her increasingly infamous muesli, courgette flans and pesto! I excelled myself too, picking golden peaches from our two peach trees and making stewed peaches - the recipe is very tricky...!!

I'm... training heaps - been really getting into cycle races on Saturdays - racing over several stages through the wineries and valleys. More importantly, Phil and Margaret will be with us in just over a month!

Love and best wishes to all, we both hope you're happy and healthy!

C&B! x x