One of Auckland’s largest metropolitan parks, originally called The Takapuna Domain, Centennial Park in Campbells Bay incorporates a number of tracks, a tennis club and a golf course within a total area of 160 hectares. Weeds and exotic species are gradually being cleared from the area and more natives planted thanks to the great work being done by the Centennial Park Preservation Society. The bush is alive with birdsong and the area boasts some rare birds such as the long tailed cuckoo. You’ll see wood pigeons, white eyes and fantails and many more native and introduced birds. There are maps available from the city council, or you can view the main map at the Beach Road entrance to the park. View a map of the park on Google Maps. Read more about Centennial Park and its history here.

Want to have a home garden and need some quidance? Maybe you’d like to reduce your household waste. Learn to make compost, how to make a worm farm, reduce your household waste and help keep our environment clean and healthy. The Kaipatiki Project runs regular adult education courses, activities and workshops free or at minimal cost. They will also tailor-make courses on demand for groups and they provide environmental education courses for schools. They are based in Lauderdale Road, Beach Haven and you will need to book in for a class as they are very popular and in demand.

Organised by the North Shore City Council, community planting days run from May to September each year with the aim of improving our city’s parks and natural environment. This involves planting native trees, shrubs and grasses, which helps fight weeds, minimise erosion and provide habitat and food for native birds and other wildlife.

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Ever heard of fish that climb ladders? And on Auckland’s North Shore? Well, neither had I until we met John Kearney.

We’ve been having our deck overhauled during the past couple of weeks. Apparently, it’s not as solid as we thought and much of it needs replacing. John Kearney, a skilled craftsman, is doing the job very ably, but the trouble is, he disappears every now and then, with little warning. The reason for this apparent slackness?

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Image: National Environment Agency Annual Report 2006/2007

We’ve come a long way since the early days of recycling on the North Shore. Back in the 1960s and 70s, about the only thing we could officially recycle was aluminium milkbottle tops. These went in with the dinner dishes before being added to a slowly growing bagful which was eventually dropped off at the School for the Blind in Manurewa. They received a fee from Tiwai Point aluminium smelter for sending them on there.

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