Volunteer Spotlight: Gavin Horner
Trapping at Gerontius and Awaruku Reserves
Gavin Horner has been trapping at Gerontius Reserve and, more recently, Awaruku Reserve for the past 12 months. He moved up from Wellington about four years ago, where he’d already caught the conservation bug through Predator Free initiatives Mt Victoria.
“I became involved in Pest Free when we were living in Mt Victoria in Wellington,” Gavin says. “I got chatting to some of the guys who were actively involved, and really talking about the whole strategy for pest eradication. It sounded really cool, so I asked if I could do anything to help — and they said here’s a trap to put in your backyard, and please take care of it. It started from there.”
It wasn’t just trapping, either. “My wife and I would walk and talk and sort stuff out, and as we walked I would see lots of litter, so I started picking stuff up. I noticed others were doing it too. I would go each weekend and pack up a bag of litter.” He’s since had the same idea for Awaruku Reserve.
Why he keeps at it
Ask Gavin what he enjoys most, and it comes back to something bigger than himself. “Just contributing to something that is going to restore the beautiful flora and fauna that we have in this country. I’m a small cog in the machine, but it’s nice to do something to contribute.”
Part of the appeal is how trapping fits around life. “It’s an area we go walking in anyway, and it’s enjoyable. Doing predator control is so flexible — we’ve come to the end of a big renovation and it’s been a big time commitment for us, but with trapping you can choose the time of the day and when you go. You aren’t tied to it.”
There are quieter rewards too. “I love it when the bush is waking up or the bush is going to sleep — you can sense it, I get a real kick out of that. Each pest you remove gives the native wildlife a chance to survive. Hearing the comments from those at a recent meeting of the Awaruku volunteers, it was great to hear their experiences and think, yes okay, we are collectively making a difference.”
A top tip: stand under the big puriri trees at the entrance to Gerontius Reserve. It’s one of the best spots around to hear tūī.
A stronger connection to place
For Gavin, the trapping and the litter-picking have changed how he relates to the reserves themselves. “I think when you are taking care of something, the connection to the environment is stronger — you care for it more. Once you are involved in it you pay more attention to it, and I really like that.”
His advice to anyone on the fence
“Give it a go — what have you got to lose. It could open your eyes to something that is really cool. It’s a lovely community — it’s a group of people who care and a nice group of people to hang out with. And if it’s not for you, that’s fine, but at least you gave it a try.
“I was always nervous of over-committing when I started, but you don’t have to sign up for hours every week — it could be small, and every little bit helps. There are different lines, and they’re varying time commitments and levels of difficulty.”
These days, when he’s not out at the reserves, Gavin’s working through a long renovation to-do list at home — his third in a few years. Between that and time in the bush, it’s fair to say he’s not short of projects.
Fancy giving it a go yourself? Get in touch with the RHB team to find out about trapping and planting opportunities near you.