Field Trip to Lees Valley
Members of the committee recently visited a nationally rare alluvial shrubland ecosystem in the Lees Valley
Recent cultivation of one of the remaining dry flat shrublands has resulted in the Waimakariri District Council issuing a retrospective consent, with no penalties nor any suggestion of protecting the remaining habitat. This rare ecosystem consists of an extensive undeveloped flat valley of about 200 hectares (slightly larger than Hagley Park). The land is now dominated by the introduced grass, browntop, and the native hard tussock and matagouri.
There are several threatened plants on the property. Hidden beneath the grasses is the nationally critical (the highest threat category) Brachyscome pinnata (daisy with deeply-lobed leaves) which is found only in Canterbury. Also present was the declining flattened-leaved Spaniard, Aciphylla subflabellata.
Jeremy Rolfe NZPCN David Norton NZPCN
Half the undeveloped ecosystem has been cultivated, and cattle are grazing on the remainder. Cattle are heavy browsers and cause much damage to the native vegetation and increase soil erosion through their heavy trampling hooves.
We were accompanied on the trip by Nick Head, DoC’s expert botanist, who helped us with plant identification, and by Wayne McCallum, Regional Biodiversity Coordinator, who is keen to get the remaining land under protection. Check out the website www.canterburybiodiversity.org.nz.
After exploring the site for rare plants, of which many a photo was taken, we then headed up river to find a nationally endangered (second highest category) plant, Carmichaelia torulosa, (Canterbury pink broom), on the steep banks of the river. Fortunately, this was fenced off from domestic stock, but has limited chance to spread. We returned to the vans for some welcome hot soup. A falcon was spotted in the valley, and two kereru were sighted along the lower Ashley River at Middle Bridge.
What can we do to ensure that rare ecosystems are protected in the future?
Zuni Steer
There will be a Branch Field Trip to the Lees Valley in November to explore this curious and rarely visited area, to look for spider orchids and hopefully to find the Canterbury Pink Broom in flower.
