What will happen to the trees, with all the Ivy invasions around here?

Recent observations of the number and size of both new and old ivy invasions locally are most alarming. It appears that, without comprehensive and urgent intervention, in 20-30 years many of this area's present trees, a breeding-site for kereru and part of or near to the largest native forest in the Auckland area, will have fallen from ivy invasion.

There is no regular monitoring or control of Ivy in Kaipatiki Reserves, and there was no reported intervention regarding the ivy said to have killed a Heritage Rimu in Hiwihau Place.

We are attempting to either alleviate or communicate our concerns through encouraging and reporting the observation of occurrences of Ivy, of any species, in the Kaipatiki area.

The leaves of Common Ivy can take several different forms, and are often unrecognised, especially the fruiting branches which throughout Autumn 2018 provided copious food to birds - and thus copious new invasions of the seedlings which generally develop unnoticed in mulch, leaf litter, or soil, under trees and shrubs, along fences and walls, in street berms, borders, gardens and reserves, before eventually climbing the nearest tree, fence or wall. Once they reach a wall or tree they can progress slowly but inevitably to a height of at least 12m.

At this stage the damage to tree health and/or property is likely to be extensive and costly. An invaded tree, though recently apparently healthy, is likely to die even with immediate removal of the ivy.

Posted on July 29, 2018 11:14 PM by kaipatiki_naturewatch