We can't go for too long without a major infrastructure or redevelopment project here at Struan Farm!
It was decided recently that we need to have a better walking track on the other side of the QEII bush reserve near the pond, one that will enable more intrepid visitors to walk down to the Mangaotaki River and do a loop, coming back up the river track. Right now the route down to the river is either up and down the metal/gravel river track, or via a rather challenging sheep track.
The vision for this has now expanded, with the track planned to pass by a lovely little waterfall, and major fencing along the stream that comes out of the QEII bush and runs down to Paradise Pond and the Mangaotaki River. The area fenced then will be planted with thousands of native trees, no exaggeration on numbers here. It's scrubby, rough territory, so not something that's used for and by grazing sheep (most often they get stuck down there). The concept is to turn messy scrub into more native reserve on the property, and make the stream and waterfall more accessible to people, not stock. It's a good thing for us to be doing in terms of the environment and the waterway.
This past weekend we walked down there to see the immediate area and the planned route. I had never seen the waterfall before, somewhat hard to believe, but it is hidden and access isn't easy. There's also an interesting wee cave, so it's definitely worth detouring the track to have visitors see this area.
Hopefully we aren't biting off more than we can chew. I have visions of us planting trees and native plants on these rugged hillsides for the rest of our days.....!
Comments