Alison Nicholl Reports: Of interest – I did see a Weka charge at an almost 2 metre vertical bank and with a bit of a scramble made the top and scuttled off!

Mike Oliver Reports: (The Fire Lookout Trap line) A catch up of the recent month’s tallies – April catches – 3 mice and 1 rat. May – 2 rats. June – No catches.

Will Reports: Kevin, Shirl and I ‘disposed’ of a number of hawthorn and barberry trees that had escaped our weed culls. Some were too large, and as they get hooked up in nearby trees, we left them with a ring bark instead.  The major effort with these was up on Grassy Saddle to make room for a small track adjustment and thus allowing a good space for some future plantings. We think this small area will lend itself with a number of tree fuchsia (Konini) thus providing another food source for the native birds. The fuchsia seem to be very touchy to get growing – is it too hot inside those green covers for them?  More plantings this month with this season’s tally now 802.  There have been some wild pigs wandering about from the locked gate right up and around Grassy Saddle. Coming down to the track towards Hill Street today (Friday) and right on Hart Creek crossing was a fresh pig footprint!A hunting spider disturbed when we worked on the new track. Kevin has a spell after working on the new track at Grassy Saddle.

In Memory of Jim Nicholl: We were sorry to hear that Jim passed away last month. He has sourced local totara seedlings for the gully over a number of years. If you happen to see a totara tree growing anywhere in Will’s Gully and up to Grassy Saddle, it will be one of Jim’s.Alastair Mackintosh Reports: Only one rat. Not much sign of others around in the near vicinity, but they will be around. Perhaps next time.

Bryan Riley’s Trap Catches: No catches with all baits except one, mouldy!

John Wilson Reports: Hi Will. Only 1 rat caught in July. I am concerned about the unleashed dogs on the tracks—saw 3 this morning. Regards J.W.