The 2026 planting season is well underway at Bullock Creek, with volunteers already planting more than 400 native plants across the restoration site.

Our nursery is also thriving, with over 600 eco-sourced native plants waiting for the right conditions to be planted over the coming months. Some of the youngest seedlings will be held over summer to give them more time to establish before being planted in 2027.

With more planting days ahead, we're on track to achieve our goal of 1,000 new native plants in the ground this season.

Every plant contributes to restoring habitat for native birds, insects and freshwater species, bringing Bullock Creek one step closer to a healthy, resilient wetland ecosystem.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our volunteers who continue to make this work possible.

Friends of Bullock Creek is taking exciting steps towards growing even more locally sourced native plants for future restoration projects.

Thanks to Arne Cleland, who has eco-sourced native seed for the project, we're now exploring opportunities to have our plants grown locally. Discussions are underway with Te Kākano and Matukituki Natives to investigate local propagation from 2026 onwards.

Using eco-sourced seed helps ensure plants are well adapted to local conditions while maintaining the genetic integrity of native species in our area.

Combined with the incredible efforts of our volunteers, this initiative will strengthen Bullock Creek's long-term restoration and help create a thriving ecosystem for generations to come.

Thanks to Paul van Klink (FOBC) and Jo Tilson (Southern Lakes Sanctuary) for leading our first-ever Bird Survey at the Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs.

Enthusiastic Participants

While we planned two sessions over a Tuesday and Sunday in late June, inclement weather unfortunately forced us to cancel the Sunday session. However, we had an enthusiastic turnout on Tuesday! The high level of inquiry and interest has FOBC considering making this an annual event, perfectly timed to coincide with the national NZ Garden Bird Survey held during the last week of June each year.

Despite the chilly winter weather, participants stayed cozy with a warming cup of soup in hand. The session kicked off with a great introduction to the local birdlife, teaching attendees exactly what to look out for and how to identify different species using a variety of resources. It was a highly interactive session—everyone had the opportunity to ask Paul questions and take home identification cards developed by the NZ Garden Bird Survey.

10 Years of Native Restoration

FOBC has been undertaking native restoration work at Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs for a decade now. As the trees start to mature, we are gaining incredible insights into the urban birdlife at this site.

During our Tuesday session, we spotted great numbers of native and introduced species, including:

• Tūī

• Korimako (Bellbird)

• Regular visits from Kāhu (Harrier Hawk)

• Riroriro (Grey Warbler) – A rare treat! Paul spotted this little guy, which is not usually seen in this urban environment.

• Pīwakawaka (Fantail)

• A few "flybys" from Kāhu (Harrier Hawk)

• And many non-native birds to be found in the urban environment:

• Dunnock

• House sparrow

• Greenfinch 

• Blackbird

• Starling

• Song thrush

• Silvereye

It will be fascinating to watch how our sightings evolve in the years to come as our restoration work continues.

As winter settles over Wānaka, the colder temperatures, frosts and seasonal rainfall bring both challenges and opportunities for restoration work at Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs.

While growth slows across much of the reserve during the colder months, winter is an important time for monitoring water quality, managing weeds, and preparing for the next planting season. The slower-growing conditions also allow our contractors and volunteers to focus on maintenance work that helps protect the thousands of native plants already established throughout the wetland.

A significant development this year has been the completion of the Alpha Series stormwater drain project. Designed to better manage urban runoff before it reaches Bullock Creek, the system represents an important step in reducing the impacts of sediment and contaminants entering the waterway from surrounding residential areas.

Healthy waterways require action both within and beyond the reserve boundaries. While restoration planting, predator control and weed management remain vital, improving how stormwater is managed upstream is equally important for the long-term health of the creek.

The Friends of Bullock Creek Trust is encouraged by the collaboration between QLDC, contractors, local residents and community groups that has made this project possible. We remain hopeful that the combination of improved stormwater treatment, ongoing restoration efforts and continued community support will help ensure Bullock Creek remains a thriving habitat for native wildlife and a treasured place for future generations.

As always, we'll continue monitoring outcomes and advocating for measures that support cleaner water and healthier ecosystems throughout the catchment.

Over two fantastic sessions, Friends of Bullock Creek teamed up with Southern Lakes Sanctuary to take part in the nationwide New Zealand Garden Bird Survey. Community members of all ages joined us at Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs to spend an hour identifying and counting the birds that call the reserve home.

The survey is one of New Zealand's largest citizen science projects, helping researchers monitor the health of both native and introduced bird populations over time. Every count submitted contributes valuable information that guides future conservation and restoration efforts across the country.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, as well as our friends at Southern Lakes Sanctuary for sharing their expertise and enthusiasm. Events like these are a wonderful reminder that conservation starts with simply taking the time to notice the wildlife around us.

We look forward to making the Backyard Bird Count an annual community event and seeing how Bullock Creek's feathered residents change over the years.

Paul van Klink leading our first session for the NZ Garden Bird Count at Bullock Creek

A major boost to restoration efforts has arrived at Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs, with Friends of Bullock Creek's new tracked chipper now fully operational.

Since arriving on site, the machine has already logged more than 10 hours of use, helping process vegetation quickly and efficiently. An hour meter has also been installed to help track usage and maintenance requirements.

The chipper is already proving its value. Vegetation that previously required significant manual handling can now be processed on site, reducing workload for volunteers and contractors while allowing restoration work to progress more efficiently.

Alongside ongoing weed control and planting efforts, predator monitoring continues with traps checked monthly, while rabbit control remains a focus along site boundaries. Additional rabbit-proof fencing is being considered where rabbits are moving between neighbouring properties and restoration areas.

Looking ahead, we are also exploring the possibility of installing a small solar power system on the Friends of Bullock Creek hut. Such a system could provide renewable power for charging tool batteries and boiling the jug during volunteer sessions, helping support day-to-day operations while reducing reliance on external power sources.

Every improvement to our equipment and infrastructure helps us restore Bullock Creek more effectively and build a healthier wetland for future generations.

While planting activity has been slower than usual so far this season, there is plenty happening behind the scenes at Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs.

To date, around 150 native plants have been established on site, with more than 600 additional plants currently growing in our nursery awaiting suitable planting conditions.

Many of these young plants are still small and require additional time to develop before being planted out. Some will go into the ground over the coming months, while others will be held over through summer and planted during 2026 and 2027.

We are also awaiting confirmation from Otago Fish & Game regarding additional native plants being propagated through the Department of Corrections nursery programme at Milton.

Our goal remains ambitious: to establish around 1,000 native plants this season. Every new planting contributes to improving habitat for birds, insects and other native wildlife while strengthening the long-term resilience of the wetland ecosystem.

As always, we are grateful to our volunteers and supporters who help make this restoration work possible.

As winter approaches, Friends of Bullock Creek is making the most of the remaining autumn growing season by tackling some of the site's most persistent weeds.

Throughout May, our focus has been on "cut and paste" weed control, targeting invasive species before we pause herbicide use over the colder months. Winter provides an opportunity to shift our efforts towards manual control methods, including cutting cotoneaster and mulching key areas in preparation for future planting.

Ivy remains a significant challenge across parts of the site. Over the coming months, volunteers and contractors will continue removing infestations and covering affected areas with black polythene to suppress regrowth and reduce the spread of this invasive species.

While weed control is often less visible than planting, it is one of the most important aspects of ecological restoration. Every cotoneaster removed and every patch of ivy controlled creates more space for native species to thrive.

The work we do this winter will help prepare the site for another busy planting season ahead.

Help Count Bullock Creek's Backyard Birds

Friends of Bullock Creek in collaboration with Southern Lakes Sanctuary is inviting the Wānaka community to take part in a bird watch and bird count at Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs this winter.

After more than 10 years of wetland restoration and native planting, FOBC is keen to learn more about how native and introduced birds are using the site. Community members can help identify and record bird species while enjoying one of Wānaka's unique natural spaces.

The bird counts will be held on Tuesday 30 June and Sunday 5 July, from 12 noon to 1pm, at Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs, 107 Stone Street.

Participants will learn simple bird identification techniques from experienced guides, contribute to local conservation efforts, and enjoy a free mug of hot soup afterwards.

No birdwatching experience is required, and beginners are warmly welcome. Even 30 minutes of participation can provide valuable information.

Please bring warm clothing, sturdy footwear, and binoculars if you have them.

Registration is essential, as numbers are limited for each session. To secure your place, please email admin@fobc.kiwi.

Come along, meet fellow nature enthusiasts, and help build a picture of the birdlife returning to Bullock Creek.

It was an exciting start for the team at Friends of Bullock Creek this week as our new tracked chipper was officially put through its paces for the first time.

Purchased with generous funding support from the Lions Foundation & Bullock Bar Wanaka, the chipper is already proving to be a valuable addition to our restoration toolkit. The distributor travelled down from Tauranga to provide the team with an overview and operational briefing before the machine was fired up on site.

Following the induction, Paul and Ed took the chipper up along the boardwalk where they spent the next hour processing cut debris. The machine performed exceptionally well, handling material efficiently and navigating the site with ease.

This new asset will significantly improve our productivity, particularly when it comes to managing vegetation and cut debris across the wetland. It’s another important step forward in supporting ongoing restoration and maintenance work at Bullock Creek.

A huge thank you to the Lions Foundation & Bullock Bar for helping make this possible.