10 Years of Conservation, Connection & CommunityCelebrating a Decade of The Forest Bridge Trust
In April, The Forest Bridge Trust marked a major milestone — 10 years of connecting people with the land, protecting native wildlife, and building a landscape where nature and community thrive.
We gathered with our incredible Rodney and Kaipara communities to celebrate everything we’ve achieved together — and look ahead to what’s next.
From Vision to Reality
Trust co-founders Gill and Kevin Adshead reflected on the Trust’s humble beginnings — the seed of an idea to create protected habitats for kiwi. They shared how a small group of volunteers dared to dream — and drafted a plan that would allow them to work with landowners to create a corridor from the Kaipara Harbour to the East Coast beaches, where concentrated predator control could tip the balance and offer kiwi a safe space to thrive.
Ecologist and author Annette Lees picked up the story, offering that many farmers were open to conservation but didn’t always have the time, knowledge, or access to funding to make those gains. The Forest Bridge Trust was born from the belief that collaboration could bridge those gaps — and bring real change.
A Decade of Impact
Michelle Impey from Save the Kiwi spoke next, describing how the COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to the Jobs for Nature initiative. Shovel-ready conservation projects were needed — and The Forest Bridge Trust’s proposal was accepted, propelling our vision into action.
Thanks to this support, we’ve been able to:
- Engage with 894 landowners
- Supply 1,047 properties with traps
- Educate nearly 900 school students
- Organise 117 community events and workshops
- Install almost 55 km of fencing
- Plant 156,417 native plants and trees
- Remove 114,566 pests
And through it all, we’ve remained grounded in our three core values: empathy, integrity, and respect.
Looking to the Future
Our CEO, Ana Christmas, closed the evening by acknowledging the end of the Jobs for Nature funding in June — and the changes that come with it. While there will be a reduction in staff and services, she emphasised that The Forest Bridge Trust is here to stay.
“The work isn’t finished.”
The momentum we’ve built is real — and we are committed to continuing our mahi alongside communities, landowners, and partners across Rodney and Kaipara.
Thank You to Our Supporters
We’re incredibly grateful to all who made this celebration so special:
- 🎤 MC Matu Booth
- 🌿 Trust co-founders Gill & Kevin Adshead
- 📚 Ecologist Annette Lees
- 💚 Michelle Impey – Save the Kiwi NZ
- 🌱 Ana Christmas – CEO, The Forest Bridge Trust
- 📸 Fei – our generous volunteer photographer
Special thanks to our event supporters:
- 🥫 Pak’nSave – for food sponsorship
- 🧀 Puhoi Valley – cheese platters
- 🌱 Burke Steel & Takana Native Trees – for the beautiful native plants
- 🏡 Mahurangi Hope Church – for the stunning venue
- 🍯 Farm & Lifestyle Centre – for the delicious relish
Ngā mihi nui to everyone who has helped create the bridge. Here’s to the next 10 years — and beyond.