Perfect weather greeted a large group of attendees for the 12 October field trip to Moelean Swamp, organised by Richard Shaw of Blythe Valley Community Catchment Group and Hurunui Biodiversity Trust. This 24-hectare swamp, formerly farmland and now owned by a forestry consortium, is one of the largest lowland wetlands in North Canterbury. Sadly, it is in a deteriorated state with willows spreading fast and other challenges including hawthorn, deer and wild sheep. Our visit to the site was to preview a restoration project to start early next year, which involves collaboration between Environment Canterbury (ECan), BVCCG and the landowners.

After an introduction from Dave Janett, representing the owners, we toured the site and discussed the issues. There was a wealth of local knowledge and ecological expertise within our group, including Miles Giller, former QEII rep, Jason Butt, ECAN wetlands adviser, and ecologist Jim Lambie. The swamp has extensive areas of Carex secta pedestals but we saw places where they are struggling due to the low water table and shading from the encroaching grey and crack willows. The first step will be to poison the grey willows to remove their seed source, then try to reverse the drainage from the historic channelling of the stream. We looked at a couple of boulder weirs which are achieving mixed success and discussed ways of slowing down and spreading the water across the site. Controlling the crack willows will also allow more water to be retained.

How to control the willows was an interesting debate. It will require careful planning and mapping to combine use of helicopter spraying and drill & fill on the ground, so that the values of the site are protected whilst making best use of the funding provided by ECan, who are carrying out the initial work. Clearly, this project will be a long-term undertaking that will require partnership between the community, volunteers and agencies. Thanks go to ECan’s Sam Thompson, Andrew Turnbull and James Schaap, and HDLG’s Billy Bartrum for their role in helping get the project underway.

A walk to view the rest of the site rounded off an interesting and inspiring afternoon. Of historical note are remnant concrete foundations that were probably used to raise and lower water levels to ease the harvesting of harakeke flax, which was processed there. Attempts to find out why the swamp is named Moelean have drawn a blank, so if anyone has a lead please let us know!