POORMANS STREAM RESTORATION PROJECT Plan, implement and evaluate a personal action for sustainability AS Level 2 Horticulture

Introduction The task

The Task… By the end of this assignment you will be able to show that you can: 1.Plan an action in relation to the Poorman’s stream restoration project. 2.Implement your plan of action. 3.Evaluate your plan of action. AIM: This will be an individual or small group (2-3 students) action project to explore an aspect of using Horticultural skills to improve Poormans Stream. Please note that if you elect to work in a small group, each student will need to submit an individual report.

Horticultural Skills Horticulturalists and Agriculturalists are multi- skilled Some of the skills / knowledge sets they have include: Plant Propagation Soil science knowledge Plant pest control skills Waste water management knowledge Ecological systems knowledge Agrichemical knowledge Plant identification skills How could these skills be applied to the Poorman’s Stream Restoration Project?

Your skill needs to be applied so that it enhances the ‘project’ To enhance the project – you need to identify an issue (or something that needs improving) Possible issues (opportunities for improvement) Soil erosion Water quality issues Birdlife habitat Bird corridor pathways Water Uptake. COMMON CONTAMINANTS Nutrients- eg nitrates, phosphates Heavy metals- urban stormwater - Often bound to fine sediments Persistant organic chemicals Fine sediments Faecal material “Water needs to be Cool / clear and flowing”

Make the connection Link the skill/ knowledge to the issue Plant Propagation Soil science knowledge Plant pest control skills Waste water management knowledge Ecological systems knowledge Agrichemical knowledge Plant identification skills Soil erosion Water quality issues Birdlife habitat Bird corridor pathways Water Quality Skill/ Knowledge Issue

Possible actions Riperian Planting projects Swale – runoff control Plant propagation Landowner Education Plant pest control Publicity/ education of the project Plant identification

Biodiversity corridors Biodiversity is the natural range of genes, species, populations in an area. Biodiversity corridors are vegetation pathways that allow wildlife to travel from one area of native bush to another. A corridor provides shelter, food and protection from predators by imitating the structure and diversity of native vegetation. We need biodiversity corridors because changes that have been made to the landscape often leave native species confined to isolated areas, making them vulnerable to local extinction. As well as providing passage for native wildlife biodiversity corridors support the spread of native plant species.