Planning under way
Planning for this year’s conference and AGM, which will be held in Wanganui/Whanganui from 2-4 August, is well under way.
The conference venue and accommodation will be the Quality Inn Collegiate, a five-minute walk from the city centre.
The programme will include a field trip to Bushy Park Homestead and Wildlife Sanctuary, with lunch at the category-1 heritage-listed Bushy Park homestead, built in 1906.
The trip will include a stopover at Virginia Lake, pictured, where DU released a number of mute swans several years ago.
Bushy Park is considered by Forest & Bird to be among the 25 best restoration ecology projects in Australasia.
The sanctuary is home to hihi (stitchbird), tīeke (saddleback), toutouwai (North Island black robin), kereru and many other species.
A revegetation project in the wetland area of the park includes plantings of rimu, pukatea, mahoe, karamu, hangehange, pigeonwood, kawakawa, NZ flax and toetoe.
Time to clear out the cupboards
For this year’s conference, DU directors are asking members for donations of suitable auction and raffle items, particularly DU Canada merchandise that you have bought at previous auctions and are in good condition.
Canada DU items have become too expensive to import because of the shipping costs.
Email Will Abel (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to let him know what you can contribute to make this year’s auction the best yet.
You can either bring the item/s to conference or drop them off with someone who is going, but please let Will know in advance.