Brenda Johnston surveys the plantings from “The Volcano” lookout
Mel Tyson shows plant growth in less than five years
A valley of trees seen from “The Volcano”lookout
These pictures show how our plantings have taken the site from the weed-infested wasteland to a valley of native trees.
The same spot in 2020.
The same spot after the fire,.
In 2003, fire swept through Maara Roa causing the loss of some 3000 new plants. Since then, green firebreaks of less flammable trees have been planted and even the most damaged sites have recovered.
Within a few hours the land was cleared
The Golden Hectare, cleared for planting.
The remote control mulcher in action
Some seriously big gorse bushes
Old man gorse is not match for the mulcher
These photos show the preparation of a new planting area. In 2018 a remote control mulcher was used to clear gorse and blackberry to open up a new planting site now known as “The Golden Hectare.” The machine made short work of some huge old gorse plants.
Morning tea break: Kathy and Mike Peers and Des Drummond.
Jonathan Boyes preparing for plantings
June 2018, the first day of the 2018 planting season
The first plantings of the Golden Hectare in 2018.
Picking up plants for delivery to the planting site
Des Drummond and Mel Tyson bringing plants up from the nursery
Loading the trailer for GWRC rangers to deliver to the planting site
