Our last weedbusters trip for 2025, from 28-30 November, took us into the back-country towards Lake Sumner Forest Park where several landowners are caring for this precious landscape by regenerating wetlands and keeping pressure on pest animals. Thanks to HBT Trustee Jamie McFadden’s relationship with these owners, we were invited to stay two nights in comfortable accommodation while helping destroy weeds.

The lime green needles of Douglas fir seedlings stood out amongst the young natives and had us crashing through the undergrowth and poisoned pine debris with our cutting tools and paste. At other times we enjoyed a gentler meander beside the Sisters Stream seeking out hawthorn, gorse and broom.

Katrina, on her first weedbusters trip with HBT, has a keen interest in native botany. Like the rest of us, she learnt a lot about the relative vigour of plants in the harsh environment and enjoyed comparing notes about interesting finds. We all gained a better understanding of high-country farming listening to Jamie share his experiences working and hunting in the area. It was good to witness how native beech, kanuka, manuka and other shrubby and ground-cover species, some quite rare, are steadily increasing where areas are fenced off or only lightly grazed.

A major highlight was a circumnavigation of Lake Sheppard with Jamie sharing his knowledge of Lakes Station developed over many years of connection with its owners on conservation and restoration projects.

There was plenty of time for sharing good yarns, good food and exploring the surroundings. We visited the waterfall on Sisters Steam, climbed up one of the 3 Sisters hills (the littlest sister!), took the swing bridge across the Hurunui river to walk the DOC tracks and went spotlighting for deer, possums and wild cats. (None were spotted on this occasion).

Weed pressures of note in the area

Douglas fir germinates easily and grows quickly in many conditions including wet, dry and shade.

Hawthorn was a target because it spreads so easily by birds and will grow into large clumping trees that crowd out native species’ establishment and growth. Briar rose has got away also but doesn’t show the same propensity to smother.

Yellow Flag Iris is spreading along streams, and is difficult to eradicate. Willow is being controlled along Sisters Stream by Lakes Station.