Reserves Management Plan
The Selwyn District Council funded the preparation of a Reserves Management Plan (RMP) which was completed in June 2011, containing a considerable amount (130 pages) of information regarding the background, future management and development of reserves in the Village. The document can be accessed on the Selwyn District Council website here.
In brief, the Village has approximately 3.8ha of officially designated reserves. The bulk of these reserves are recreation reserves which collectively incorporate the community facilities such as the hall, the tennis court and the children’s playground, as well as tree-lined paths providing walking access along several routes through the Village (distinct from the roadside paths) and small areas of public open space within the Village.
The reserves are considered important for maintaining the alpine character of the Village. The original Village development was based on a philosophy of small residential sections, generally 350 to 450 m2, set within generous reserves of open space. The sense of rural alpine character and spaciousness thus was intended to be maintained particularly by the trees and spaciousness of the reserves, not unduly divided up by fences & barriers. Hence there is a deliberate merging of residential sections with their surrounding reserves.
Tree Removals and Replanting
All tree removals on reserves are handled by Selwyn District Council.
Tree removal requests can be submitted to Selwyn District Council using this form.
Tree felling or de-limbing on reserves by any person who is not on the SDC list of NZQA accredited individuals is strictly prohibited.
The general approach by SDC in management of the reserves management plan has been to create smaller clumps of trees with “view corridors” rather than clear cutting of whole stands. Also favoured is to prune off side branches up to say a third of tree height in some stands. Topping of conifers is not favoured. Preference is normally given to clearing Pinus contorta trees first with Douglas fir, Ponderosa pines and larch trees generally retained for longer term growth and later thinning. Conditions of removal may include replanting with mountain beech or other shrub or tree species to ensure a continuity of shrub or tree cover in most locations.
Pest Management
Broom
If you are into herbicides then spray for broom with Tordon or Grazon in the November – December period. Otherwise cut with a blade fitted to a weed eater.
Wilding Pines
Information about wilding pines can be found on the Wilding Conifers website.
In particular, there are two PDF brochures available for download, The Right Tree for Your Place, and the Wilding Conifer Quick ID Guide.