President shows interest in conservation

Press, 9 January 1987, Page 15

President shows interest in conservation

In addition to helping his brother farm their share-owned Akaroa land, the president of the 1987 Peninsula Horse and Pastoral Associaion, Mr Alan Haylock, also puts a lot of work into preserving the native flora around the farm.

“The majority of the native bush has been destroyed, but where the odd little pockets of bush are, we try to ring fence them to form reserves,” he says. Conservation of these areas, says Mr Haylock is of great importance, not only for future genera-

tions to enjoy, but also because of the practical considerations. “These reserves help stabilize the soil, as well as encourage the growth of native birds. I think fanners are realising that the survival of these reserves helps the country and also benefits them,” he says. - The Haylock brothers are the fourth generation to farm the homestead part of the family land. With 2000 perendale sheep, some small Angus stud, as well as fattening cattle, the farm is not large enough to keep both brothers fully occupied. “We don’t rely entirely op farming for that reason,” says Mr Haylock. “Both of us do a bit of casual work to make up for it, and that can range from mustering and haymaking, to bulldozing and

truck driving,” Mr Haylock says. As the 1986 Pastoral Association president, Mr Haylock says, the job has been very time-consum-ing, but with the positive support of the association secretry, the task has been made much easier. "Without them the show wouldn’t function,” he says.

The Haylocks have been associated with the show for about 10 years and, according to Mr Haylock, he was very active in the Young farmer’s Club, but is now a member of Federated Farmers. Mr Haylock was also the immediate past president of the Banks Penin-

sula Two-Tooth Flock Ewe Competition and is an active member of the Akaroa Lighthouse Preservation Society.