Harris Scientific Reserve walk with the Canterbury Botanical Society
https://www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz/news/restoring-the-plants-on-the-plains/
From the Ashburton District Council website-
The Harris Scientific Reserve, is a Council own conservation plots which is managed by the Ashburton Community Conservation Trust (ACCT). The ACCT was set up by Forest and Bird Ashburton to help foster conservation initiative at the grassroots. The Scientific Reserve is 10 kilometers from Ashburton town, protects the remnant of Canterbury dry-land plain tree such Manuka, Kanuka, cabbage, flaxes, Coprosma sp..
Arthur and Shirley Harris purchased a 121.4 h of land in 1964 for their agricultural venture. Because there was no shelter, they decided to fence the 2.5 h of the best Kanuka and the section as a shelter. The original paddock of 16.3 h was still in Kanuka of variable sizes, which are cut and used as firewood source. In 1965, Arthur and Shirley Harris asked the District Council to push any remaining stumps of kanuka into windrows with a road grader. These were burned, land ploughed and converted into pasture. In 1988, Dr Brian Molloy negotiated with the Harris family to create a Queen Elizabeth II Tryst covenant over the 2.4 has used as shelter with kanukas on the perimeter. On assessment, Arthur and Shirley discovered a native Clemantis in full bloom climbing along the Kanuka. The importance of this site increased considerably when it was discovered that this species in undescribed, adapted in both dry and cold environments and characterized by its small stature, with very small leaves, flowers and seed capsules, said Dr Molloy.
The site was later purchased by the Ashburton District Council. In 2006, after a visit to the site with then Mayor, Bede O’Malley, Forest and Bird wrote to the Council suggesting that the covenant be administered by the a trust set up by Forest and Bird Ashburton. They also suggested that the paddock between the covenant and Lovetts road be included as a larger size to ensure a greater survival of the natives, and of regaining the community associated with the Kanuka plants. In august 2006, Forest and Bird members propagated 120 seedlings of Kanuka which were planted on the site. Planting continued in 2009/2010 with 1200 kanuka, Coprosma sp., Muehlenbeckia sp., Melicytus sp. with two planting days that attracted over 60 members of the public. In 2010, F&B set up the Ashburton Community Conservation Trust (ACCT) to administer the reserve and a license to occupy was issued to the ACCT by the council in an official opening ceremony on 18th 2010.
In the same year, the Scientific Reserve was selected by Gordon Hosking and the Trust as one of the 17 living legends projects associated with Rugby World Cup, supported by Meridian Energy, Department of Conservation and the Tindall Foundation. Ten thousand native trees were planted at each site in association with All Blacks and living legend chose for Harris Sci. Res was Jock Ross. The living legend also provided fund for purchase of three plastic tanks and small pump for easy watering when needed. Another 2000 kanuka propagated at the DOC Motukara nursery were planted in 2011.
Since then, over 50,000 natives have been planted at the reserve. HSR has become a place where rare plants from the Ashburton District are safe to grow, eventually to recreate the dry shrubland ecosystem that was once so common. It has provided a haven for insects, lizards and birds that cannot exist on farmland, became an educational resource for students and the district’s children, and seed source for restoration projects and private nurseries. Already the reserve has been visited by a garden club and used by a horticulture student as a resource. Planting is a minor part of managing the site. Hundreds of volunteer hours go into propagation, preparation of sites, weeding, rematting, spraying and general maintenance.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/36164136
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Lichens (Class Lecanoromycetes)Observer
katrina_muirDescription
On Kanuka
Comments
Add a Comment