This is a relatively new planting alongside the Brian Mayo Reserve. It is on land used for cropping hay and silage, and is designed to link up with the rimu and totara groves. Unlike them, it incorporates a variety of species, including grasses and flaxes. There is a suburban power line running above the land, and we have to plant low-growing species under it.

A good deal of effort went into the planning. The team was led by Jane Moodie, and she and her team spent many hours over their kitchen tables laying out planting schemes before settling on the one being used. 

We lost several plants through frost. Our protection cloths weren't big enough to provide the shelter necessary, so we've had to do some extra planting. And, of course, there is the on-going battle against weeds.