Central residents interested in biodiversity are invited to Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust’s (HNHT) annual general meeting (AGM) to hear from Predator Free Arrowtown founder and trustee of the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust, Ben Teele.

Ben’s talk is titled ‘What came before and what could come after - factors in restoring native vegetation in Central Otago’. 

He has expertise and enthusiasm for native reforestation efforts and in his spare time he grows a couple of thousand eco-sourced native plants annually to plant around his house to help showcase the Whakatipu Basin's diversity.

“Everyone in Central is interested in resilience in landscapes… I’ll be encouraging people to think about what it might have been like, what it is now and what Central could be in the future.”

Listen to the trailer of the interview

Listen to the full interview by clicking here The Outlet Podcast.

His focus is on a generational timeframe (approximately 100 year blocks), so attendees will be asked to think about the landscape their children and grandchildren will hope for. 

Ben has also been involved in Arrowtown’s Wilding Strategy, the Arrowtown Choppers (who remove Wilding pines through volunteer evenings). He is working on a PhD in the Botany Department of the University of Otago on dryland reforestation. 

As a part of his doctorate he has visited “all the mountain ranges in Central Otago [he] could find”. 

Ben said locals had been generous with their time in Dunstan, Pisa, Rough Ridge, the Cambrians, and Roxburgh.

The AGM is at St Enoch’s Church Lounge, Thursday September 21 at 7pm. Supper is provided and you need to register online to attend.

Lone silver beech in woodland of kānuka - Locharburn. PHOTO: Ben Teele