Past EVENTS
This is a list of our most recent events. To see more pictures, please visit our Gallery or check out the albums on our facebook page (no facebook account required to view them).
2011
June Planting Days
We had 3 very successful planting days in June on three consecutive Sundays.
On Sunday 12 June we had the usual annual planting day organised by the Auckland Council.
Some 130 volunteers were in attendance. With their help, we managed to plant about 3500-4000 trees.
In addition to a lunch BBQ, volunteers indulged in some delicious cake to celebrate the completion of the pest–proof fence.
On Sunday 19 June around 100 volunteers planted 1,000 small plants and trees in the skink sanctuary and surrounding area. With so many volunteers available, the plants were soon in the ground and an early and extended barbecue lunch was enjoyed by all.
On Sunday 26 June we had our last planting of the season. Another good turnout of volunteers meant we managed not only to put the plants in the dunes in the ground in record time, but we also had plenty of hands available to plant some more trees in the wetlands.
A big THANK YOU to everyone who took part. See you next year!
Jeff Thomson Artwork exhibition
4th - 6th March 2011
An exhibition of artworks by celebrated New Zealand artist Jeff Thomson took place over 3 days at the Old Woolshed building in Shakespear Regional Park.
We were pleased to see so many people turning up every day despite the torrential rain! In addition to being able to admire some of Jeff's pieces, visitors to the exhibition had the opportunity to purchase limited edition artwork to help raise funds for the Shakespear Open Sanctuary.
Jeff has been helping raise funds for the Open Sanctuary for some time now, donating $50 for every piece sold from a collection of limited edition artworks. Click here to learn more about Jeff's contribution to SOSSI.
Jeff himself was present at the exhibition and available to the public on Sunday. He even found time to fashion a basket out of pest-proof fence wire!
Here he is presenting it to SOSSI's chairman Allan Parker.
2010
Weeding in the wetlands (Sunday Volunteers Group)
Sunday 26th September
3 regular volunteers (Raewyn, John and Maria (behind the camera)) managed to remove a small mountain of weeds from the path that runs alongside the wetlands. And this is just one of the piles! Imagine what we could achieve with more help.
Interested? We get together on the last Sunday of every month. Take a look at this page for more information!
Dune Planting
Sunday 15th August
We had a successful planting morning in the sand dunes at The Haruhi Beach. Many thanks to the Keas from Dairy Flat, the Cubs from Orewa, and all the families and individuals who were not put off by the gray skies and came to the park to help us.
Also many thanks to Pauline Williams who brought along a crate of drinks for the children. What a sweet gesture, the kids absolutely loved them!
Green Drinks
Monday 21st June
We hosted our first Green Drinks event at the Bar and Dine restaurant in Silverdale. It gave our guests an opportunity to learn more about the sanctuary - several management committee members were at hand to answer questions.
We also had a small display illustrating the purpose of the sanctuary and a slideshow giving an overview of the fence construction and showing different corners of the park and the flora and fauna.
To find out more about Green Drinks, please visit their website.
Tree Planting
Sunday 20th June
This is our main (recurring) annual event which was initially scheduled for May – unfortunately we had to postpone it due to the ongoing drought conditions as the ground was rock solid! The rain finally arrived and our plants were ready to go in the ground a month later.
The day started off rather gloomy but the threat of rain didn’t discourage the 70+ volunteers who came along to help us with the planting in a field adjacent to Kowhai Glen. It was a fabulous event - well over 3,000 plants (including manuka, mahoe, flax, pohutukawa, cabbage trees and grasses) went in the ground, new friendships were made, and the sun even shone for us in the afternoon! Many thanks to the ARC for organising this event and providing a lunch BBQ.
Planting in the Moko Skink Sanctuary
Sunday 13th June
Did you know that Shakespear Park is the one of the few places on the New Zealand mainland where moko skinks can be found? Many thanks to all the volunteers who came along and helped us plant a new habitat for them.
Toddlers with their parents, the Girl Guides from Orewa & the Keas from Dairy Flat, and our oldest volunteer, Laurie Griffith (aged 90+), all did their bit. Thank you everyone for your efforts!
Tree Release in the wetlands
Sunday 25th April
This was our first event as part of the newly formed Sunday working group. With the help of a small bunch of cheerful volunteers, we managed to “release” and fertilise several dozen trees.
“Tree releasing” is removing weeds from around the base of the trees to prevent them from being smothered.
Our Sunday working group meets up on the last Sunday of the month. To find out more, please visit our volunteering page.
