Native Restoration
The Luggate area has experienced a dramatic invasion of wilding pines in recent decades resulting from the planting of pines for shelter last century.
The above photos show the dramatic invasion of wilding pines within the river corridor at Luggate, causing the loss of much less obvious native biodiversity. The unique Upper Clutha river terraces, in their natural state, are dryland plant communities described as ''significant
indigenous vegetation and fauna habitat'', supporting remarkable biodiversity including rare cushion plants such as pimelea pulvinarus.
Gullies and river margins tend to support kanuka, flax, cordyline australis, kowhai and other native species which provide excellent nesting habitats for native birds such as Fantails, Bellbirds and Grey Warblers.
At the Red Bridge river park location, past residents have introduced various invasive species, including Pinus radiata, Pinus contorta, Vinca major (periwinkle), briar and blackberry.
However, much of the upstream area of the park has already undergone two decades of native restoration work. Many large wilding pines, countless small wildings, and areas of Vinca major (periwinkle), briars and blackberry, have been removed by Lewis Verduyn-Cassels, who has replanted kanuka, cordyline australis, kowhai, flax, and other natives grown on-site. The restored area now attracts many native birds, including nesting Fantails and Bellbirds.
The Trust will prepare a staged native restoration plan for the river park. Some exotic trees will be retained for their amenity values, including some oaks and Ponderosa pines, and many of the riverbank willows which provide shade. The river park will be a working native restoration site, allowing visitors to learn about, and engage directly in, best practice river corridor restoration and conservation.
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| Wilding spread from 1982 to 2011 |
At the Red Bridge river park location, past residents have introduced various invasive species, including Pinus radiata, Pinus contorta, Vinca major (periwinkle), briar and blackberry.
However, much of the upstream area of the park has already undergone two decades of native restoration work. Many large wilding pines, countless small wildings, and areas of Vinca major (periwinkle), briars and blackberry, have been removed by Lewis Verduyn-Cassels, who has replanted kanuka, cordyline australis, kowhai, flax, and other natives grown on-site. The restored area now attracts many native birds, including nesting Fantails and Bellbirds.
The Trust will prepare a staged native restoration plan for the river park. Some exotic trees will be retained for their amenity values, including some oaks and Ponderosa pines, and many of the riverbank willows which provide shade. The river park will be a working native restoration site, allowing visitors to learn about, and engage directly in, best practice river corridor restoration and conservation.
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| Vinca major (periwinkle) invasive infestation, middle of site |
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| Vinca major removal without chemicals, to juvenile kanuka |
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| Wilding pine control area, middle of site |
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| Wilding pine removal, middle of site |
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| Restoration from dying kanuka to juvenile kanuka |
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| Kanuka recently planted out from on-site nursery |
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| A wilding pine for removal in restoration area, near bridge (1) |
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| A wilding pine for removal in restoration area, near bridge (2) |
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| Wilding pines for removal in restoration area, near bridge (1) |
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| Wilding pines for removal in restoration area, near bridge (2) |
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| Wilding pines for removal in restoration area, near bridge (3) |
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| Restoration site and future common amenity area, near river |
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| Restored area with juvenile kanuka, upstream |
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| Restored area with mature and juvenile kanuka, upstream |
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| Fully restored area among wilding pine stumps, upstream |
