A last minute booking was made with Conservation Volunteers who offered a special deal:

The team consisted of 8 volunteers.  Team leader Dawn Gasparro,  Lydia Doerig (Switzerland), Virginie Dubois (Belgium), Sophie Laroque (Germany), Robyn Dempsey (UK), Joe Adey (UK).  I thought I noted a look of disappointment on their faces when they arrived at our little cottage and later discovered their previous accommodation had been a luxury lodge in the South Island with individual rooms!

The remainder of the morning and early afternoon was spent working at the bottom of Sir Duncan McMullin’s property – mainly pulling out privet.  Many thanks to Rupert Harrison for all his help.  What a back breaking job.  Sadly Chris and I had to return to Auckland.  We have given the volunteers a list of jobs including digging out ginger behind the brown cottage, and planting the wetland area.  We look forward to seeing what they achieve.