Examples of their commitment to conservation in the Wakatipu Basin are everywhere and their work has been recognised with the 2014 Inland Otago Conservation Award.
What is it about the project you're involved in that got you both interested in conservation and drives your work?
The conservation of New Zealand's native plants and the education of the NZ public to appreciate their beauty, value and uniqueness, part of our natural heritage that around the Wakatipu basin and in other places is disappearing under an invasion of exotic plants and introduced weeds.
We are concerned that many people no longer know what is native and what is introduced.
We believe that there are many local areas of ''waste'' land (small gullies, roadsides, escarpments) both on public and private land that are presently covered in broom, hawthorn, blackberry, buddleja and other weeds but that could be planted in native vegetation for the benefit of our native birdlife.
How do the project/s you're involved in benefit conservation?
Small pockets of native vegetation could perhaps be connected up over time to form wildlife corridors through the area, increasing our native bird and insect population, providing a native seed source for the natural spread of native plants and reducing the need to spray weed areas.
In our view this would also improve the visual landscape.
This project also follows on from more than 10 years of restoration planting on Pigeon Island, organised by the Wakatipu Islands Reforestation Trust, where about 40,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted by volunteers over more than 15 years.
What do you get out of the work?
We get enormous satisfaction from planting native plants, seeing the results of that work and helping others to appreciate our wonderful native plants.
What challenges has the project faced and how have they been overcome?
We have had great verbal support and enthusiasm from the community at large and also from funders, so that funding so far has not been a problem, although it has been a lot of work.
The main challenge is getting the information out - what we are doing and how others can help, getting volunteers for planting (we have had a great response for potting-up sessions at the nursery).
Just on 3000 plants have been planted around the district this year by volunteers but we could do with more volunteers for planting and maintenance.
What direction do you see your conservation work going in the future?
This is a very long-term project that we hope will continue long after we are about.
