Boxing on: Malcolm Perano and Ellen Webb with some of the Doc100 traps made in Te Awamutu..
Te Awamutu Community Menz Shed is putting its best foot forward to support the destruction of pests in the “pest free” corridor between the Maungatautari and Pirongia mountains.
Last week the Menz Shed completed an order for 110 Doc100 traps – a model chosen for its strength and reliability – for Go Eco predator-free hub. The finance for these traps filters down from Environment Waikato regional services account, and comes from the protecting and restoring natural biodiversity vote.
Boxing on: Malcolm Perano and Ellen Webb with some of the Doc100 traps made in Te Awamutu..
Project manager Malcolm Perano said it was a great effort by the men, some of whom are new to the shed. They all found themselves learning new skills and working in a team environment.
The traps will be delivered to lifestyle block owners and will also be spread amongst farmers who have bush on their property.
Ellen Webb from Go Eco said the traps will also form part of the Bush to Burbs project.
The project revolves around the spillover, or halo, effects from Sanctuary Mountain by reducing predator numbers in fragmented bush in the adjacent rural landscape.
Monthly catches are recorded by the trap owner and figures appear on their social media page.
This project is one of many the Menz Shed takes part in around the town. There is a charge for the traps which goes towards paying for the power, and buying new machines, allowing ‘Sheddies’ to take on further work for schools, kindergartens, and similar organisations.
The Te Awamutu Community Menz Shed was established in 2012 and now has more than 50 Members. It is one of more than 135 such sheds around the country.
Shed president Richard Cato says one of the main values of such sheds is the comradeship and sense of belonging and community involvement they provide, especially for older men, some of who are either living along or have recently retired and feel they want to be doing something interesting and useful.
