The Cockle Bay Beach Reserve Planting and Restoration Project can be held up as a fine example of how communities and council can work together at improving environments.

That was the sentiment of how people felt when a brand-new sign illustrating the walkways connecting into the Cockle Bay Beach Reserve was unveiled last Sunday, May 4.

The skilfully created public information sign stands behind Windross House and was expertly illustrated by Howick artist Ron van Dam and funded by the Howick Local Board.

As he went to stroll the Windross Walkways Loop, van Dam told the Times: “I’m very fortunate to have been involved in the project.”

The idea for the sign was initiated by Cockle Bay Residents and Ratepayers Association (CBRRA) member Julie Mitchell, who was very pleased with how Sunday’s event went, alongside Fiona Rankin, of the CBRRA, who led the ceremony.

It shows all the walks, loops and trails, with details on how long they take, plus descriptions of what native flora and fauna feature in the adjacent bush, and birds that can be seen and heard in the habitat.

Howick Local Board chair Damian Light unveiled the new sign with Barry Wood, who leads the planting and restoration project and can be described as the local resident guardian of Cockle Bay Beach Reserve.

“What we have found is community volunteer groups are really good at looking after their local parks and reserves,” Light said, in reference to how Auckland Council parks staff can work alongside residents who have a willingness to tend to their local public space environments.

“This is a really good example of that. They’ve done a fantastic job.

“We [Howick Local Board] have given them funding grants, and that money is multiplied many times over by the work they’ve done in weeding and planting, and a result of that has seen the water in the stream becoming a lot cleaner and better.”

Every Wednesday afternoon, dedicated members of the community project turn up to get their green fingers dirty doing the bush restoration work, and it’s been happening now for 10 years, said Wood.

“We’ve got a great team of workers who are keen and dedicated. The project’s ongoing and we’ve got a good relationship with the council parks staff.”

Making it a very pleasant middle-of-a-sunny Sunday event by the seaside, award-winning children’s music creator Claudia Robin Gunn was singing songs and playing guitar under a tree, and the Lions Club of Howick, as it always does, was barbecuing sausages for those with a hunger.

And Ethan McCormick, another committed community worker and volunteer, was at hand representing Pest Free Howick and offering advice to the public about eradicating pests.