Open Valley Urban Ecosanctuary (OpenVUE)

Open Valley Urban Ecosanctuary (Open VUE) is a collaborative project that brings together the community, The Valley Project, Orokonui Ecosanctuary, and the University of Otago.

Building on The Valley Project's holistic connection with the local community and environment; Open VUE and partners seek to revitalise the unique topography of North East Valley as a defined catchment area for Lindsay Creek, as an open urban Ecosanctuary for resident native taonga species and extended home for species dispersing from Orokonui Ecosanctuary, linking to the Dunedin Town Belt. We are delivering this project within North East Valley, Normanby, Ōpoho, Pine Hill, Liberton, Dalmore and Upper Junction suburbs. Within this area we are facilitating the “Backyard Ecosanctuaries” programme to encourage wildlife friendly actions in backyards and community spaces. The backyard trapping programme is part of the Backyard Ecosanctuaries programme. 

Get invovled

Open Valley Urban Ecosanctuary is working with City Sanctuary to help people in its project area start trapping possums and rats in their backyard.

If you live within the project area, get in touch with Open VUE’s Community Trapping Coordinator. They will assess your property for a possum trap and provide ongoing support during your backyard trapping journey.

Open VUE also runs a trap library where local residents can arrange to pick up rat traps and monitoring devices. This is a click and collect service, so get in touch to arrange collection.

Key native species: Tūī, korimako/bellbird, kererū, karearea/falcon

Target predator(s): Possums.

Website: northeastvalley.org/openvue

Facebook: facebook.com/OpenValleyUrbanEcosanctuary

Email: openvue@northeastvalley.org