Care needed in clearing vine

Press, 15 July 1985, Page 7

Care needed in clearing vine

Methods used to clear a problem Muilenbeckia vine which is smothering native plants and shrubs in the Lyttelton Scenic Reserve will be reviewed, the North Canterbury National Parks and Reserves Board decided at its annual meeting on Friday. A special committee was set up to review the clearing methods after it heard from a concerned Lyttelton resident, Mrs Helen Gunn, at its meeting. “My husband and I have lived in the area near the reserve for 15 years, and we were horrified to see the lavish manner in which the

part-time project workers employed by the Lands and Survey Department were clearing the area,” said Mrs Gunn.

The area which is being cleared of the troublesome vine is near the lower boundary of the Lyttelton Scenic Reserve. The host trees supporting the vine include several varieties of natives such as lacebark, kowhai, whiting wood, native fuchsia and Maori jasmine, said the district ranger, Mr Barrie Thomas.

One board member, Dr David Given, expressed concern that unskilled workers

were being used to cut the vine. “This is an extremely rare site for several ferns which are quite uncommon on the Port Hills. We really need people with botanical expertise to oversee the operation,” said Dr Given. The board resolved to ask the Lands and Survey Department to assess methods of the removal of the vine and to report back to it at its next meeting. They thanked Mrs Gunn for bringing the matter to the board’s attention, as the area was rather “special.” ’