Elaine and Bill Beever love the bush and the sound of birds singing, so about 18 months ago they joined the Mauao Care Group.

Since its inception two years ago, members of the group have donated more than 600 hours of their time to clear weeds and plant more than 1000 native plants on Mount Maunganui.
The group is one of 13 set up under Tauranga Environment Centre's Urban Greenspace Project, which encourages volunteers to help care for local reserves. The care groups take part in regular working bees to clear weeds and replant reserves with native plants.
For the Beevers, joining the Mauao Care Group was also a way to give something back to the community and make new friends.
'To have something so valuable (as Mauao) right on your door step by a city is really rare. It's a real asset. And there is years of work up there (for the care group).”
As well as taking part in working bees, they carry out regular bird monitoring. They have recently seen and heard kereru, tui and bellbirds around Mauao.
'We came off a farm and we missed our birds terribly,” says Elaine.
'Now to know they are here, and the plants we are planting are attracting the right kind of birds, is wonderful. It's a beautiful place to live and without our birds it wouldn't be so beautiful.”
Urban Greenspace Project Coordinator Chris Dench coordinates the care groups and also brings tools and morning tea for the volunteers. Plants are supplied by Tauranga City Council.
The Mauao Care Group holds two working bees every five weeks on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am-12noon.
Chris is currently looking for more volunteers to join care groups around Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, including the Mauao Care Group. If you would like to volunteer, phone Chris on 07 578 6664 or email [email protected]
Further information is also available at www.tgaenvcentre.org.nz