North Canterbury owners of a Parnassus farm admired for its trees by passing motorists have won the South Island Foresters of the Year award. Sources: Scoop NZ, Fairfax NZ
The New Zealand Farm Forestry Association awards were held at Orewa, north of Auckland. Judge Neil Cullen, from Balclutha, said the trees were an example of good land use. Many of the “awkward” corners and gullies had been planted in small tree blocks, shelter belts and ornamental trees to provide shade and shelter appreciated by stock this dry summer, he said.
“I was impressed with the way they have managed the property as far as land use goes. It’s a long, stretched out property 16km to the ocean and although there is only 40ha of tree blocks in 1400ha a lot of the property isn’t suitable for forestry because of access problems.”
Cullen said careful tree planting had made stock handling easier by keeping them out of trouble areas and specimen trees including poplars in gullies and paddocks provided colour.
Charles and Sandi Wiffen began planting trees at their sheep and beef farm Inverness, straddling State Highway 1 just north of Parnassus township in 1994.
Established plantations of pine, macrocarpa and douglas fir over 40 hectares now co-exist with carefully positioned ornamental trees on the long and narrow property running 16 kilometres from the highway to the sea.
Often circling the plantations are lusitanicus and cypress that will remain standing when timber trees are harvested.
On the main road, the couple has put in ornamental trees to break the landscape and add colour as well as shade.
Another 30ha of native bush is protected by QE11 covenant and the couple has fenced from stock about 100ha in gullies for their personal pleasure.
Wetlands receive the same careful attention at Inverness, rising from sea level at the coastal boundary to 1800 feet (550m), and at a smaller property south of Parnassus.
Charles Wiffen said the trees had been planted at the 1400ha farm as much for providing a pleasant working landscape as for shelter and shade for stock. He said they had made a point of planting oaks, poplars and cypress for variety.
“In the first instance, we took out little areas that were a nuisance for stock movement and then we created laneways and put trees in areas that were not particularly productive or were prone to slipping.”
The Wiffens, who also run a Blenheim vineyard and manage the Charles Wiffen label, have been at Inverness for 48 years with Charles’ father first running the farm.
Elms, maples and “every oak you could think of” now line the property.
