Farmers just doing their bit
This week is Conservation Week.
Here in Hurunui there’s plenty of great things happening when it comes to lending a helping hand to our environment.
This week we’re covering some stories of what’s happening in our own backyard.
Here’s a story about the Le Pine family from Nape Nape.
It was over a cuppa a couple of years ago that Tim and Jen Le Pine up the Blythe Valley in Hurunui decided to retire a 43 hectare block of their 500ha property where they farm sheep, beef and velveting deer.
Sitting above Nape Nape, they were discussing a wetland area on their farm with Environment Canterbury (Ecan) when the idea of establishing a QEII covenant developed, with the vision of protecting additional underperforming land, not just the wetland.
The newly stated covenant is protected by three kilometres of deer fencing which the Le Pines built last year. This has allowed the massive seed bank under the existing kanuka and manuka to establish, and the grass has started to grow.
“There is a lot more bird life now too, we see and hear bellbird, kereru and quail,” said Jen, who added the covenant is right next to the house, so they reap the benefits day and night.
The covenant is a three-way partnership between the Le Pines, Ecan and the QE11 Trust.
Jen said as the land is very steep and erosion-prone, and was getting inundated with wild dear each year, the decision to fence it off was an easy one.
“It’s about protecting what’s in our area, making our farm a better place, and looking after the future.”
Jen said being conservation-minded can be really simple, it’s a matter of looking around at what you have and seeing how you can improve the land.
The Le Pines have learned plenty about their farm and what’s in the soil.
“We didn’t really think much about this area, but a field expert taught us a lot about biodiversity and the qualities it holds.”
Their farm is part of the Blythe Valley Catchment Group, which formed in August 2024. With 22 families involved there are plenty of projects happening from restoring wetlands, retiring grazing land and enhancing biodiversity.
“All farmers are just doing their bit,” said Jen.
For more information: https://www.blythecatchment.com/
