World Wetlands Day will be celebrated locally with a family-friendly event at urban wetland Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs on Sunday February 2.

The two-hectare wetland, the site of a former Otago Fish & Game hatchery, is an ongoing restoration project with Friends of Bullock Creek and the Department of Corrections.

Fish & Game Central Otago operations manager Jamie Ward said the wetland was a natural gem in the community and its pristine spring-fed creek provided important spawning habitat for fish.

“As our towns and cities grow and expand, it is increasingly important to safeguard pockets of nature like Bullock Creek,” Jamie said.

At the upcoming event, visitors will have the chance to see how Fish & Game manages and monitors species and habitat, and can practice casting in a fun fishing game. 

Visitors can also learn about the invertebrates that live in Bullock Creek, and the native plants being restored to the wetlands. 

There will be insights into the world of bees, and how trapping programmes protect native birds and lizards.

Jamie said the QEII-covenanted wetland was thriving thanks to the unwavering dedication and fundraising by Friends of Bullock Creek volunteers, and supported by licence fees from anglers and hunters.

Visitors will be able to chat with representatives from the QEII National Trust and Otago Catchment Community.

Friends of Bullock Creek will also highlight their ongoing restoration work planting natives and removing weeds through almost 8,000 volunteer hours.

A huge range of volunteers and generous donations have made the work possible.

“Since FOBC initiated the restoration project at the Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs site in 2016, we have fundraised well over $200,000 to achieve the transformation of the wetland site you can see today,” Friends of Bullock Creek trustee Andy Oxley said.

The World Wetlands Day will be a chance to celebrate everything that has been achieved at the site.

“Grab the kids, bring your picnic and a rug and enjoy a free barbecue,” Andy said. “There will be lots to see and do on the day.”

PHOTO: Wānaka App