Geraldine Orchard Farmshop and Cafe

Improving our environment

The Raukapuka Stream runs right through the centre of our property. In 2005, in consultation with Environment Canterbury (Ecan), we decided to improve the environment, water quality and surrounding of the stream. Ecan were involved every step of the way. Our first efforts had some problems. We had just finished planting hundreds of trees when we had the heaviest snowfall in more than 50 years. Many of the newly planted trees were badly damaged.

Since then many thousands of trees, shrubs and native grasses have been planted along the 1 km of the stream that passes through the property. It is an on-going project. weed control is done once a year. There are many problem weeds, Blackberry, Broom, Old man's Beard (clematis vitalba) and willows are probably the worst. Now the stream is in a much better condition and the pukeko for which are gardens are named are breeding well and we have even been visited by a rare white heron.

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