Our rugged landscape was once covered in Kōwhai trees which provided food for moa, and this pre human ecosystem is the topic of the first of three Heritage Winter Series talks to be held in Central. 

The speaker, palaeontologist Dr Mike Pole, grew up in Alexandra, and first discovered his love of plant fossils on a family trip to Haast at age ten. 

Mike has worked in Mongolia, Indonesia and Turkey as a geologist, travelled to over 76 countries and published more than 80 research papers.  

The Dunedin-born paleobotanist has thoroughly researched the vegetation that once covered Central. 

He visited the Cromwell gorge’s caves, rocky outcrops, and overhangs to study ancient dried vegetation dated to be between 1,000 and 4,000 years old. 

Other areas he is knowledgeable about include the Caitlins, St Bathans, the Manuherikia and Wānaka.

Mike’s talk will take place at Clyde Museum on Wednesday July 20 at 6.45pm. Book here to attend.

The second and third talks, organised by Central Otago Heritage Trust are on August 3 and August 24 and will also cover Central’s intriguing heritage. The Central App will bring you information about them in the coming days.