Local Landowners and Volunteers Join Forces to Set Up New Trapping Network in Matakana

Claire, from The Forest Bridge Trust’s Community Liaison team and Hamish from Predator Control, recently joined a dedicated group of trapping volunteers from Greens Road, Matakana to help set up a new predator control network on a 40-hectare farm in Matakana – a great example of how community-led conservation efforts are continuing to grow across the region.

The day began with a collaborative planning session, with the team walking the property and discussing the best trap placements to ensure easy access for future checks. Together, they laid out a mix of traps including DOCs, Fenn Traps, and an AT220 automatic possum trap. In total, seven traps were installed across the farm, carefully placed to target key predator hotspots.

This farm wasn’t starting from scratch. For some time, the landowner had maintained a bait line with support from local volunteers. Adding traps to the property built on that existing mahi, providing an additional layer of protection for native wildlife and supporting the wider landscape-scale effort to reduce predator numbers in the area.

After placing the initial traps, the group was warmly welcomed by a neighbouring landowner who hosted them for morning tea – a simple but powerful gesture that underscored the strong sense of community driving these efforts.

Re-energised, the group completed the remainder of the trap setup across the property. Everyone left feeling encouraged by the work achieved and the knowledge that they were helping to create safer spaces for native birds and wildlife.

The following day brought an early win – the farmer was delighted to discover a possum already caught in the AT220 trap. It was a rewarding sign that the collective efforts were making an immediate difference.

This day was a fantastic example of community members coming together, sharing knowledge, and working alongside The Forest Bridge Trust to extend predator control networks and support the return of native species to the Matakana region.