The Lagmhor Westerfield Catchment Group hosted some good group activities in our first year, and it has been great to have involvement from the community.

We have appreciated borrowing the Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective’s (MCCC) portable nitrate sensor on two occasions now –  in August and November. Landowners brought water samples in from various sources; drinking water to surface water from drains, springs and the Ashburton River; and we were able to provide instantaneous readings for nitrate in these samples.

Results were very interesting overall. No household drinking water was over the maximum rate for NZ drinking standards, which was pleasing to see.  A sample taken from the Ashburton River at the end of Sheates Road was 1.69mg/L nitrate-N which provided useful context.

The catchment group will continue to offer this instantaneous nitrate testing for our Lagmhor Westerfield community in 2024, thanks to MCCC.

Another highlight was a tiki tour around the district looking at native plantings at different stages to glean bright ideas for our own properties.

We visited one property where AgSmart UAV Ltd has been using a drone to spray out the side of drains/waterways and letting them regenerate by themselves. It is amazing what native plant species are coming back just by removing the competition of gorse, broom, and other weeds, without needing to plant out new plants.

The catchment group visited Carex Secta plantings along the Windermere Drain that the Lowlands Catchment Group have been working hard on. It was a very visual example of plants at different stages and the positve effects that these are having on the waterway.

We have been fortunate that passionate farmers have opened their gates, showing us, with pride, the practical and effective plantings that have been undertaken on farms. From the work of the Carex Project through the University of Canterbury, to various local initiatives, the progress we saw was inspiring. It has provided our catchment group with insight into the possibilities, the gains in both the short and long term, plenty of advice, and the desire to want to go home and get our own hands dirty and plant more of our own waterways.

We closed 2023 with another water testing drop in session; and we’re looking to put in place a water monitoring programme this year. In the meantime, members are busy planting or planning, and are looking forward to learning more about increasing the biodiversity on their properties.

If you would like to know more about the Lagmhor Westerfield Catchment Group, please contact Group Facilitator Sophie Blair on [email protected] or via 0276364110

by Sophie Blair