Izmet's Dream - Restoration Projects

*Reclaiming Paradise*
Visit the shop for great gift ideas. Featured Designs click on photos to enlarge organic human tee proud tree hugger tote For every item purchased from this section, 10 cents will be donated to the Nature Conservancy's program to protect tropical rainforests of the Mesoamerican & Caribbean regions. Protect the Maui's dolphin (the rarest dolphin in the world) For every item purchased, 10 cents will be donated to the World Wildlife Fund's Habitat Protection Fund to encourage and promote the conservation of New Zealand's natural environment. Banks Peninsula native plants Almost all of Banks Peninsula was once covered in native forest. Exceptions were very steep exposed sites, and areas too swampy to support trees. This forest, the result of many millions of years of land formation and evolution, had the same or similar plants species 20,000 years ago as we find today in the remaining reserves and vegetation remnants. However, at least 15 species have been lost. Most of this forest was felled or burned during the first 50 years of European occupation. Today the remnants of this ancient forest reflect their stage of regeneration and site characteristics such as altitude, aspect, soil type and proximity to the coast: podocarps occur on fertile valley floors, podocarp/hardwood forest on lower slopes, mountain totara grows above 500 metres, coastal forest (including the warmth-demanding species like ngaio and nikau palm) and open tussockland occur on drier, northfacing slopes. A dozen tree and shrub species reach their natural southern limit on Banks Peninsula. Two shrubs (Heliohebe lavaudiana, Hebe strictissima) and one herb species (Celmisia mackaui) are unique to Banks Peninsula. Click here for a list of plants native to Banks Peninsula.	Home Conservation Restoration Projects Sustainability Action For Kids Shop Blog Contact Us
Restoration Projects Parr Property/Kaituna Valley Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand Update June, 2008: Well it is winter in NZ, with cold air coming up from Antarctica. Vicki has attended a gorse workshop to learn about weed control and the Department of Conservation has made a concerted effort at possum control on the property. The D.O.C. is also going to take some photos (perhaps some aerial, as well), so check back for updated images of the project. About the Project: At the end of the Kaituna Valley Rd lies the property of Vicki and Chris Parr. It has been farmed for about 150 years and would probably have been covered in forest originally. At various times, it has been farmed with dairy cattle, beef cattle, and sheep. Vicki states that "There are some quite good stands of old growth timber and pockets of bush dotted over the property. Also two Reserves. The Kaituna River runs through the property, and is a clean river, from which our house supply comes. There is quite a variety of bird life still around, and they consist of mostly bell bird, wood pigeon, fantails, morepork owls, grey warbler, and of course introduced species. The property has a lovely feel to it, and most people who come to visit, like it." The Parrs have been farming the property for the last 15 years, but have always been interested in conservation. It was one of the reasons they bought the property. Now, they feel the time is right to allow the land to return to its natural state. They are slowly getting rid of stock, and haven't yet worked out how they are going to manage the process of allowing the property to regenerate. Join us as we follow Vicki and Chris on their journey to restore native flora and fauna to this beautiful valley.	click on map to enlarge
A VisonQuester rediscovers Kaituna Valley by Andrew Challies In the southern hemisphere spring of 2007 the urge to undergo the Native American ceremony of the VisionQuest became stronger within me. I had talked about it with friends. I had intellectual knowledge of the process so I decided that come what may I’d do it during the summer. And as life does it called me to other concerns and I let the idea go. In early December an American arrived for a shamanic refresher/taster my group was running and in talking to him afterwards discovered that he had trained as a VisionQuest protector. He described the VisionQuest as a Sacred ceremony, a 96 hour meditation fasting alone in nature. After a couple of weeks of discussion we’d decided to run a quest in the early New Year and so began the process of looking for a site. We explored the Banks Peninsula area of Canterbury, New Zealand. I had a favourite spot. Le Bons Bay. It held some promise but the ability to quest more than one person at that time would have been difficult. The following week we had another person come on board and so we really needed a suitable spot. Christmas passed and our prospective quester had a possible site. She was unable to follow this up so it was left to me. I contacted the people concerned and set up a meeting and visit. Unfortunately he was leasing the land we would have used and needed the ok of the farmer concerned. I looked at the site and left still without a decision made. It was 2^nd January and we’d set a date of the 5^th. As I drove home the words “Kaituna Valley” popped into my head. Kaituna Valley lay on Banks Peninsula and had been the starting point for my first tramp with the Boys Scouts more than 30 years ago. It was my only lead and I felt that there was a definite possibility that it could hold the answer to our prayers. On the 4^th we went out to look at the area. We went to the end of the Kaituna Valley road and as luck would have it the owners of the land were at home. This was the first time we met Vicki and Chris. We sought their permission to look for a site to hold a wilderness retreat and they were only to happy to give it. We hiked up the hill for about 20 minutes and the spot they’d suggested, the site of a previous dwelling, was perfect. During the process of giving the area the once over we also found places that would be perfect for the quest. When we stopped at the house to let them know we’d found an ideal location we were invited for a cup of coffee. During the conversation Vicki and Chris told us of their idea to take the stock off their land and bring the native flora back to its former glory. In the middle of March we returned to Kaituna Valley to run another quest. Once the quest was over I revisited my questing spot. On the trail I noticed a couple of saplings that I had been careful of when walking past seemed to have increased their size quite considerably. I have no knowledge of what might be normal in that situation but was surprised by how much they’d grown. Andrew Challies is a life coach and resides in Christchurch. Banks Peninsula forms the most prominent volcanic feature of the South Island. The peninsula formed as offshore islands, with the volcanoes reaching to about 1,500 m above sea level. Two dominant craters formed Lyttelton and Akaroa Harbors. The Canterbury Plains formed from the erosion of the Southern Alps and from the alluvial fans created by large braided rivers. These plains reach their widest point where they meet the hilly sub-region of Banks Peninsula. The portion of crater rim lying between Lyttelton Harbor and Christchurch city forms the Port Hills.
Home Conservation Restoration Projects Sustainability Action For Kids Shop Blog Contact Us ©2007-2008 Izmet's Dream, LLC All rights reserved. Custom Search

Izmet's Dream: Become the change you imagine.

Reclaiming Paradise

Visit the shop for

great gift ideas.

Featured Designs

click on photos to enlarge

organic human tee

proud tree hugger tote

For every item purchased from this section, 10 cents will be donated to the Nature Conservancy's program to protect tropical rainforests of the Mesoamerican & Caribbean regions.

Protect the Maui's dolphin

(the rarest dolphin in the world)

For every item purchased, 10 cents will be donated to the World Wildlife Fund's Habitat Protection Fund to encourage and promote the conservation of New Zealand's natural environment.

Banks Peninsula

native plants

Almost all of Banks Peninsula was once covered in native forest. Exceptions were very
steep exposed sites, and areas too swampy to support trees.

This forest, the result of many millions of years of land formation and evolution, had the same or similar plants species 20,000 years ago as we find today in the remaining reserves and
vegetation remnants. However, at least 15 species have been lost.

Most of this forest was felled or burned during the first 50 years of European occupation.

Today the remnants of this ancient forest reflect their stage of regeneration and site
characteristics such as altitude, aspect, soil type and proximity to the coast: podocarps occur on fertile valley floors, podocarp/hardwood forest
on lower slopes, mountain totara grows above 500 metres, coastal forest (including the warmth-demanding species like ngaio and nikau palm) and open tussockland occur on drier, northfacing slopes.

A dozen tree and shrub species reach their natural southern limit on Banks Peninsula. Two shrubs (Heliohebe lavaudiana, Hebe strictissima) and one herb species (Celmisia mackaui) are unique to Banks Peninsula.

Click here for a list of plants native to Banks Peninsula.

Home Conservation Restoration Projects Sustainability Action For Kids Shop Blog Contact Us

Restoration Projects

Parr Property/Kaituna Valley

Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand

Update June, 2008: Well it is winter in NZ, with cold air coming up from Antarctica. Vicki has attended a gorse workshop to learn about weed control and the Department of Conservation has made a concerted effort at possum control on the property. The D.O.C. is also going to take some photos (perhaps some aerial, as well), so check back for updated images of the project.

About the Project:

At the end of the Kaituna Valley Rd lies the property of Vicki and Chris Parr. It has been farmed for about 150 years and would probably have been covered in forest originally. At various times, it has been farmed with dairy cattle, beef cattle, and sheep.

Vicki states that "There are some quite good stands of old growth timber and pockets of bush dotted over the property. Also two Reserves. The Kaituna River runs through the property, and is a clean river, from which our house supply comes.

There is quite a variety of bird life still around, and they consist of mostly bell bird, wood pigeon, fantails, morepork owls, grey warbler, and of course introduced species. The property has a lovely feel to it, and most people who come to visit, like it."

The Parrs have been farming the property for the last 15 years, but have always been interested in conservation. It was one of the reasons they bought the property. Now, they feel the time is right to allow the land to return to its natural state.

They are slowly getting rid of stock, and haven't yet worked out how they are going to manage the process of allowing the property to regenerate.

Join us as we follow Vicki and Chris on their journey to restore native flora and fauna to this beautiful valley.

click on map to enlarge

A VisonQuester rediscovers Kaituna Valley

by Andrew Challies

In the southern hemisphere spring of 2007 the urge to undergo the Native American ceremony of the VisionQuest became stronger within me. I had talked about it with friends. I had intellectual knowledge of the process so I decided that come what may I’d do it during the summer.

And as life does it called me to other concerns and I let the idea go. In early December an American arrived for a shamanic refresher/taster my group was running and in talking to him afterwards discovered that he had trained as a VisionQuest protector. He described the VisionQuest as a Sacred ceremony, a 96 hour meditation fasting alone in nature.

After a couple of weeks of discussion we’d decided to run a quest in the early New Year and so began the process of looking for a site. We explored the Banks Peninsula area of Canterbury, New Zealand. I had a favourite spot. Le Bons Bay. It held some promise but the ability to quest more than one person at that time would have been difficult.

The following week we had another person come on board and so we really needed a suitable spot. Christmas passed and our prospective quester had a possible site. She was unable to follow this up so it was left to me. I contacted the people concerned and set up a meeting and visit. Unfortunately he was leasing the land we would have used and needed the ok of the farmer concerned. I looked at the site and left still without a decision made.

It was 2^nd January and we’d set a date of the 5^th. As I drove home the words “Kaituna Valley” popped into my head. Kaituna Valley lay on Banks Peninsula and had been the starting point for my first tramp with the Boys Scouts more than 30 years ago.

It was my only lead and I felt that there was a definite possibility that it could hold the answer to our prayers. On the 4^th we went out to look at the area. We went to the end of the Kaituna Valley road and as luck would have it the owners of the land were at home.

This was the first time we met Vicki and Chris. We sought their permission to look for a site to hold a wilderness retreat and they were only to happy to give it. We hiked up the hill for about 20 minutes and the spot they’d suggested, the site of a previous dwelling, was perfect. During the process of giving the area the once over we also found places that would be perfect for the quest.

When we stopped at the house to let them know we’d found an ideal location we were invited for a cup of coffee. During the conversation Vicki and Chris told us of their idea to take the stock off their land and bring the native flora back to its former glory.

In the middle of March we returned to Kaituna Valley to run another quest. Once the quest was over I revisited my questing spot. On the
trail I noticed a couple of saplings that I had been careful of when walking past seemed to have increased their size quite considerably. I have no knowledge of what might be normal in that situation but was surprised by how much they’d grown.

Andrew Challies is a life coach and resides in Christchurch.

Banks Peninsula forms the most prominent volcanic feature of the South Island. The peninsula formed as offshore islands, with the volcanoes reaching to about 1,500 m above sea level. Two dominant craters formed Lyttelton and Akaroa Harbors. The Canterbury Plains formed from the erosion of the Southern Alps and from the alluvial fans created by large braided rivers. These plains reach their widest point where they meet the hilly sub-region of Banks Peninsula. The portion of crater rim lying between Lyttelton Harbor and Christchurch city forms the Port Hills.

Home Conservation Restoration Projects Sustainability

Action For Kids Shop Blog Contact Us

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