Red zone regeneration hotspot

Nestled at the back of a River Rd, Richmond, section is a 300sq m oasis of biodiversity, that gives a glimpse into the future of Avon-Otakaro Forest Park.

The owners planted native trees over 50 years ago, in an area that would once have supported kahikatea bush. Today the trees stand tall and are among the oldest native plants in the Avon River Red Zone.

Among the taller trees are red and black beech, kowhai, young kauri, totara, young matai, cabbage trees, lancewoods, five finger, kahikatea and several types of pittosporum. The smaller plants include hoheria, corokia, wineberry, bush daisies, karaka, poroporo, wind grass and several species of flax and hebe. And on the floor of this small forest hoheria and several types of kowhai seedlings are growing.

Our native animals love it, with fantails, kereru, and red admiral butterflies all making themselves at home.

Volunteer working bees have focused on weeding out invasive exotics such as convolvulus and wandering willy – a plant that was smothering the ground, preventing native regeneration.

The volunteers are helping nature get on with the job of regeneration here – and the birds that take the seed from this site are spreading it throughout the Avon River Red Zone.

On the next page: Save money by taking nature's lead