Our on-site hives, cared for by Tiaki Bees, have had a challenging but ultimately rewarding season.

Unsettled weather early in the summer made things difficult for the bees, particularly during a critical time when new queens were taking their mating flights. Cooler conditions also delayed flowering across many plants, meaning food sources were slower to arrive than usual.

Despite this, the Bullock Creek bees have shown their resilience. As the season progressed, conditions improved and the hives were able to produce a good surplus of honey. The honey boxes have now been removed and are currently at the extraction facility, where they’ll soon be processed and jarred.

The hives have also been treated for varroa mites to ensure the health of the colonies. As we move into the cooler months, the bees are continuing to forage from late-blooming plants while naturally adjusting their colony size to prepare for winter.

This is a great reminder of how closely our wetlands, plant life, and pollinators are connected and how important it is to protect and restore these ecosystems.

As we head into autumn and the days grow cooler, a quiet transformation begins along Bullock Creek. The light softens, leaves begin to turn, and the creek settles into a new seasonal rhythm.

Autumn is an important time for restoration work. Cooler temperatures and increased soil moisture create ideal conditions for native planting, giving young plants the best chance to establish strong root systems before winter. It’s also a time to check plant guards, manage weeds, and prepare sites for the months ahead.

For Friends of Bullock Creek, this season is about steady progress. Every planting day and working bee helps strengthen the creek’s margins, improve water quality, and provide habitat for native wildlife as they prepare for winter.

As the landscape shifts into golden tones, we’re reminded that restoration is a long-term commitment - one season at a time. We look forward to welcoming volunteers back to the creek this autumn to continue the important work of protecting this special waterway.

On March 22, we recognise World Water Day - a global reminder of just how vital clean, healthy waterways are to our environment and our communities.

As our region grows, increasing urbanisation and tourism place added pressure on freshwater systems. Expanding infrastructure, stormwater runoff, sedimentation, wastewater loads and higher recreational use can all impact water quality and ecological balance. Without careful management, these pressures can lead to degraded habitats, reduced biodiversity, and declining water clarity.

This is why the work of Friends of Bullock Creek is so important. Through native planting, pest control, habitat restoration and ongoing community involvement, we are helping to strengthen the resilience and health of Bullock Creek. Established vegetation filters runoff, stabilises banks, reduces erosion, and creates vital habitat for native species - all contributing to cleaner water flowing through our catchment.

This World Water Day, we acknowledge both the challenges facing our waterways and the collective action needed to protect them. Thank you to our volunteers, supporters and partners who help ensure Bullock Creek remains healthy for generations to come.

When wood is collected on site as part of our ongoing restoration and maintenance work at Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs, it doesn’t go to waste. Instead, it’s donated to Community Networks to support their Wood for Good and Cold Kids campaigns.

These initiatives help ensure local families have access to firewood and warm clothing during the colder months, supporting health, wellbeing, and comfort across our community. By passing this wood on, Friends of Bullock Creek is able to contribute beyond the reserve, connecting environmental care with social good.

It’s a simple but meaningful way our on-site work continues to make a positive impact, keeping both our local environment and our community thriving.

Wasp control measures are now in place at Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs, with 12 Vespex bait stations installed across the site last week.

The stations have been positioned throughout the area to target wasp activity, and encouragingly, wasps were attracted to the bait within minutes of deployment - a strong sign the treatment is working quickly.

Controlling wasps is an important part of protecting our native species and improving safety for volunteers and visitors. Wasps compete with native birds and insects for food and can significantly disrupt fragile ecosystems if left unmanaged.

We’ll continue monitoring the stations over the coming weeks and assess the impact on local wasp populations.

It’s been a productive week on site for the FOBC team, with Paul and our dedicated volunteers putting the trailer to great use once again.

Thanks to the trailer - part funded by the generous support of the ZQN Community Fund - we were able to remove another full trailer load of invasive weeds from the wetland.

This week’s focus was tackling persistent problem species including blackberry, broom, dock, couch and thistles. Clearing these aggressive plants is essential to protecting the native species regenerating throughout the wetland and improving the overall health of the ecosystem.

Having the trailer on site makes a significant difference. It allows us to efficiently remove large volumes of weeds in a single session, keeping the momentum going and ensuring cleared areas stay clear.

A huge thank you to our hardworking volunteers and to ZQN Community Fund for helping make this mahi possible. Every trailer load out is a step forward for Bullock Creek. 🌱

Peak summer is not an ideal time for planting, as hot, dry conditions can place significant stress on young plants and greatly reduce their chances of survival. Instead, this period is used to prepare for future planting seasons and ensure plants are well cared for until conditions are right.

At present, there are more than 600 plants growing in the nursery that will be held over summer and planted out in autumn. With the irrigation and automated watering systems now in place, the nursery is functioning well, allowing plants to stay healthy and established through the warmer months. This preparation sets the project up strongly for successful planting when cooler, wetter conditions return.

With the combination of frequent rain and warmer days, grass growth has taken off once again, as it does every year across the catchment. This rapid growth, while a sign of a healthy season, can quickly overwhelm young native plants if left unmanaged and will take some time to bring back under control.

Over the coming months, the focus will be on cutting and pasting invasive weed species, release spraying, and careful hand weeding around established and newly planted natives. This work is essential to reduce competition, support ongoing restoration efforts, and give native plants the best possible chance to thrive as the season progresses.

Since the start of spring, much of the focus on the ground has been weed cutting and pasting, with particular attention on invasive ivy and convolvulus. Alongside these, volunteers have continued to manage all the usual problem species that threaten native regeneration. This ongoing mahi is essential to protecting planting areas and giving new growth the best chance to thrive as the season progresses.

We’re thrilled to share that Patagonia, the globally renowned outdoor brand, is shining a spotlight on the Friends of Bullock Creek (FOBC) this January. As part of their commitment to environmental stewardship and local conservation, Patagonia’s Queenstown store will feature FOBC, highlighting our ongoing work to restore and protect the Bullock Creek wetland and its unique ecosystems.

Patagonia has long been a champion of grassroots environmental initiatives, and their support helps bring wider recognition to the dedication of FOBC volunteers, donors, and community members who have worked tirelessly to nurture this precious area. From planting native species to controlling invasive weeds and pests, the efforts of our team have transformed the site into a thriving habitat and now visitors to Patagonia in Queenstown can learn about this work firsthand.

This feature is more than a showcase; it’s a celebration of community action and the impact that people can have when they come together for nature. We are deeply grateful to Patagonia for helping share our story and inspiring others to take part in protecting Bullock Creek.

Pop into the Queenstown store this January to see the FOBC feature, learn more about our work, and discover ways you can support local conservation efforts.