Celebrating Conservation and Community EngagementHighlights from Two A&P Shows
Over Summer, our teams had the pleasure of attending not one, but two A&P shows— the Warkworth A&P Lifestyle Show and the 120th Helensville A&P Show. These events provided invaluable opportunities to connect with local communities, share insights on conservation efforts, and foster meaningful partnerships in our mission to protect New Zealand’s flora and fauna.
At the Warkworth A&P Lifestyle Show, we were thrilled to engage with numerous local landowners who are actively involved in predator control efforts to safeguard our indigenous wildlife. A heartfelt shoutout goes to Tris from our community liaison team, who donned the Save the Kiwi costume delighting many families—though some youngsters were surprised to discover that kiwis can talk!
Additionally, Charlie, our Trap NZ guru, shared indispensable advice on using the TrapNZ app, emphasizing the importance of recording catches and trap activities to gain crucial insights into pest populations and lure effectiveness.
Meanwhile, at the 120th Helensville A&P Show, Angela from our fencing and planting team set up The Forest Bridge Trust marquee, engaging with farmers and landowners about the funding available through the Kaipara Moana Remediation Programme (KMR). As a field agent for Kaipara Moana Remediation Programme, Angela had the opportunity to talk to farmers and landowners about funding available to fence off and plant waterways, wetlands, and native bush in riparian zones. KMR’s landowner grant schemes target the reduction of sediment entering the Kaipara Harbour by contributing to the fencing and planting of waterways.
A highlight of the day for Angela and her husband, Andrew, was meeting Tim Dangen, the 2022 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final Winner and host of the podcast “Our Farms, Our Future.” Tim, a passionate beef farmer, was eager to discuss support for the primary sector with Angela.
The Forest Bridge Trust works in partnership with Kaipara Moana Remediation (KMR) to support landowners to reduce sediment through projects to restore wetlands, fence off rivers and streams, plant trees and regenerate forest on erosion-prone land. KMR funds up to half of estimated project costs. For more information on this please contact angela@theforestbridgetrust.org.nz.
Participating in the A&P shows was a great our experience and reminded us of the power of community engagement and collaboration in achieving conservation goals. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the preservation of New Zealand’s natural beauty and biodiversity.