The owners of this hectare site on the Marahau hill initially contacted M.A.D Conservation to assist with rat control. This brief rapidly expanded to general maintenance of the outdoor residential areas...and beyond!
In addition to maintaining their large lawns, we’ve assisted these clients with establishing domestic vegetable and flower gardens around a low maintenance and native/conservation theme.
Extensive stands of weeds around the domestic boundary (gorse, broom, honeysuckle, passionfruit and buddelia) have been brought under control and these areas have been progressively replaced with native plantings.
Pest control work has continued, and the property now hosts a pest trapping network to address encroachment of stoats, rats and possums from surrounding bushlands.
Walking tracks that access bush areas were constructed and our digger skills have also been employed during urgent work to clear slips and drainage following extreme weather events.
M.A.D Conservation's contribution has notably enhanced the biodiversity on the property – which was one of the client's key aims. The owners report an increase in bird numbers with more sightings of Kereru, Tui, Fantails and Grey Warblers and regular visits from Falcon, Harrier Hawks and Kea, including the recent reappearance of Bellbirds. Weta and gecko are also more observable than they were when our work commenced in 2019.
" My husband and I moved to our lifestyle block in the Tasman District in 2018. While my family are farmers in the USA, I really had no idea what owning ten hectares of predominantly native bush entailed. We were being overrun by pests invading our house and classic cars. Just when I was at my wit's end, I found the M.A.D. Conservation flyer in my mailbox and gave Steve a call. He mapped out a trapping plan for us, set up the trap network, and cleared the traps on a weekly basis. I never would have guessed how many rats, stoats, weasels, and possums were on our property. In no time, we stopped hearing rats in the attic and started hearing a wave of beautiful birdsong at dawn. We are still trapping two or three rodents a week. It's an ongoing battle, but we are winning! Steve and his team have also given us views that were previously overgrown by weeds, and we have more full enjoyment of our property. He even uncovered a productive avocado tree in our small orchard. Old Man's Beard was strangling it and is now producing beautiful fruit. Through COVID and my husband's illness, Steve has been a rock for us and made our "life on the hill" much easier. If you need help restoring your property to its native glory, call Steve and his team. You won't be disappointed! "
K Wilson
The pest plant and predator control activities of the Takaka Hill Biodiversity Group Trust (THBGT) are open to private landowners. The goal of the trust is to restore and preserve the unique indigenous ecosystems of Takaka Hill in recognition of its importance as a corridor to the Abel Tasman National Park and Kahurangi National Park.
M.A.D Conservation was initially contracted to address control of invasive weeds, but this role progressed to include removal of wilding pines using a ‘drill and fill’ approach, with more established swathes being dropped by chainsaw. Since 2022 we have eliminated upwards of 50,000 self-seeded pine trees.
We also look after the extensive network of trap lines targeting rats and stoats, and take out occasional goats, deer and pigs when we encounter them.
Use of geotechnologies allows us to map and report activities to the trust so that impacts on biodiversity can be monitored spatially over time.
For more information about the trust, visit: Takaka Hill Biodiversity Group
M.A.D Conservation undertakes work with several landowners who have implemented QEII covenants to restore and protect sites of ecological significance on their properties. We are active in a consultancy capacity as well as carrying out the weed control, replanting and track work required to achieve restoration goals. We are aided in these projects through a strong working relationship with QEII Trust’s Regional Representative.
Current projects include:
Motueka West Bank – This 9 hectare site is situated in the Motueka valley and is a low hilled, deeply gullied Separation Point granite. The gullies are full of native tree species and birdsong, but the ridges are regenerating manuka/kanuka).The deep gullies show signs of remnant forest and at the top of the property is a 3-hectare block of remnant and regenerating forest. M.A.D Conservation installed an extensive trapping network around the entire property. This network involves using the properties many tracks and exterior boundaries.
This landowner is now part of the Motueka Catchment Collective initiative in the valley, and now hosts a onsite nursery and has put in around 8000 new native plantings since beginning the project. M.A.D Conservation have also been helping eradicate weeds and some wilding pine work
Blue Lake, Golden Bay – Surrounded by farmland, the Blue Lake has an area of native bush which boarders onto a residential area. The containment of invasive weeds and wilding exotics have been a challenge on this site. We continue to work with the landowners in eliminating these.
Awa Awa Road, Tasman – we are involved with assisting the landowners in recovering and restoring a small wetland area that has largely turned to blackberry.
For more information about the QEII National Trust see: QEII National Trust
M.A.D Conservation was contracted by Tasman District Council to undertake wetland restoration as part of the Jobs for Nature project. This work has us working with TDC and landowners across the Tasman District, eradicating weed species and aiding in the restoration of wetland environments.
We have recently been selected as a supplier for Nelson City Council. This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in significant ecological restoration projects within the Nelson environment.
To discuss how we can help maintain and develop your property in line with your environmental goals, please get in touch.
Find out more . . . call O27 5345 918 or email info@madconservation.co.nz
