Anne Denny’s outstanding work for more than two decades for the Forest & Bird’s North Shore branch and her leading role in the restoration of Tuff Crater has been recognised with the organisation’s Ti Kōuka Award.
The award recognises members who have made exceptional contributions to advancing Forest & Bird’s objectives locally and regionally.
Anne helped with the planting of the Millennium Forest at Tuff Crater on Auckland’s North Shore in 1999 and is now proud to see it flourishing.
“It really does look like a forest, the trees are doing very well, it’s a real showcase,” Anne said. Birdlife is increasing and tūī and kererū are among regular visitors to the forest, as well as a variety of shorebirds in the tidal area.
Restoration has expanded beyond the Millenium Forest to the rest of the site, including the removal of swathes of pampas grass surrounding the tidal inlet and their replacement with native plants. “Now the natives are way above your head, it’s fabulous.”
North Shore branch chair Claire Stevens said Anne had led or co-led a weekly working bee at Tuff Crater for a decade, and helped run planting days and many other events at the project.
The restoration was one of the largest restoration projects in Auckland and the work led by Anne had been a key factor in its success.
“Anne has been a pivotal member of the team for more than 20 years and thoroughly deserves this award,” Claire said.
Anne was also a committee member of the North shore branch between 2004 and 2018 and helped run branch events and meetings.
Anne said she loved doing the restoration work and described working with others as a lot of fun. Asked what’s kept her involved for more than 20 years, she said: “I love weeding. I know it seems crazy but I enjoy it so much.”
Over that time, she had seen community interest in the Tuff Crater project grow strongly, as had people’s interest in conservation and their local environment. “When we have a working day once a month, it’s great that people come with their families, that’s how it will carry on into the future.”
Anne is also involved in a local group that gathers once a week to remove the invasive moth plant weed from properties in the Birkenhead and Northcote areas on the North Shore.
Access photos here. Photo captions:
- Anne Denny 1 – Anne Denny
- Anne Denny 2 – Anne Denny with invasive moth plant weed.
- Anne Denny 3 – Anne Denny (centre) with volunteers at the Forest & Bird North Shore branch’s Tuff Crater project.