A community response that started 10 years ago to help restore areas of Central Otago’s biodiversity celebrated a milestone in Clyde on Thursday (September 29).

The Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust was formed in 2017, but its roots go back to 2012 when founding patron Dr Roger Browne helped raise $2,000 for a just a simple shed onsite at the Clyde Railhead.

Now the trust, made up of a large group of enthusiastic volunteers, has its own manager and project coordinator at the Community Eco-Nursery, working on restoring riverside tracks, the Manorburn Reserve and the Half Mile out of Alexandra.

The trust is currently working on developing a partnership with the Central Otago District Council to see more of its native plants in the ground on council land.

Other partnerships include with Enviroschools and Keep Alexandra and Clyde Beautiful (KACB).

Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust patron Dr Roger Browne and trustee Bev Thomson at the Clyde Railhead Community Eco-Nursery

Originally started by the Department of Conservation to save many of the district’s almost extinct plant species, the restoration plan started at Flat Top Hill, but when DoC restructured, the small nursery needed a new driver. 

Roger did some research before his retirement to Central Otago to find out what plants would grow well here, and initially began to raise the seed trays at his home.

All the seeds the group propagates are sourced locally, and the nursery is now equipped with a tunnel house for seed raising, a shade house for young seedlings and a hardening off area for plants to grow to planting-out size.

New trust chair Ollie Yeoman spoke at the 10th birthday celebration and said a lot had changed in the past decade, and so much research was being carried out.

“We’re working in the most harsh environment in New Zealand, but over the next 10 years it is exciting to be able to see all of this work.”

He mentioned the wilding Totara that was currently growing in the Waikerikeri Valley up the Lillco Spur track, as an example of what nature was wanting to do, “alongside the work that we’re also doing naturally”.

The group meets onsite at the Clyde Railhead Community Eco-Nursery on Thursday mornings to work with the seedlings and share some community spirit.