The first stop, O'Neills Bush, Titiroa, was a small forest remnant on Environment Southland's lease land. Restoration of the forest remnants on this Mataura floodplain began in the late 1980's when the Southland Catchment Board fenced and covenanted the areas with QEII National Trust. More recently pest control saw the removal of over 1,000 possums, along with some mustelid control. Only 3ha in size, O'Neills Bush has been assisted by three local schools over the last seven years, with annual plantings in Conservation Week. At the same time they have gathered up seedlings off the track to pot up for future plantings. As well as this Environment Southland staff have undertaken weed control, attacking holly, hawthorn, blackberry and Chilean flame creeper.

The second stop was the Wyndham Wildlife Refuge, where an ambitious project to restore native vegetation to a willow dominated oxbow is being undertaken, along with developing 3 kms of walking tracks for the locals to enjoy. The difficulty of planting into the strong exotic fescue was discussed here, with spraying being recommended as the best practice. The use of flax and cabbage trees was considered appropriate in a hard environment with frost and floods affecting the area.

Southland's Spring Field Day participants enjoying a walk around Borthwick's bush

Discussion on the Mataitai, instigated by the Hokonui Runanga to restore the health of the Mataura River took place as we looked upon the picturesque Matuara Falls. We heard how these falls are only half their original height, having been blasted away in the early 19th century to enable the establishment of a power scheme for adjoining industry. The work being undertaken by iwi with national research bodies is aiming to develop techniques that can be used countrywide for individuals or groups concerned about the health of their water bodies. The importance of kana kana (lamprey) which come up the Mataura and are harvested by the iwi at the Falls was talked about, along with the research that is underway to understand their breeding cycle.

Following lunch at the Hokonui Runanga's Marae, we enjoyed a walk around the wetland area they had developed there.

The final stop was the Borthwick's farm at Waitane, where Janet Gregory, Biodiversity Southland Co-ordinator, had assisted the landowner's to gain Biodiversity Condition Funds to fence off forested gully systems and undertake Chilean flame creeper control in a forest remnant they already had fenced. The presence of the threatened mistletoe, Tupeia, was pointed out by Brian Rance, DoC botanist.

Thanks go to Environment Southland for their sponsorship of the day through covering bus costs.