John and I were down at the Mangaotaki River that borders the southern end of Struan Farm a day or so ago in the late afternoon. In summer we often take wine and cheese down to the rapids near the sandy beach at the end of the day, but in winter it gets rather wet and muddy so we don't venture down in that direction all that often.
There's an area of smaller rapids just upstream from there where nephew Mike has been working to clean up farm rubble beside that stretch of the river. We're looking at planting more natives along the river and fencing, similar to what John's been doing along the stream that runs down from the QEII bush reserve.
A rather spectacular old willow tree is the main feature currently. I have cautioned both John and Mike to leave it alone. It's decorated with native orchids and ferns, I absolutely love it. Especially when the late afternoon light is just so. If anyone gets near this tree with a chainsaw they'll have me to answer to, and it won't be pretty!
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