Morchard Farm.
Farm system: Mixed arable system
FEP Audit Grade: A
Assistance from the Central Plains Environmental Management Fund was used for planting native shrubs under pivots between fences. These plantings replace exotic trees removed to enable irrigation while providing living windbreaks that protect and preserve the environment and our cultural history.
Impact.
Short term.
- Provide corridors for native birds to travel through and a stepping stone to other sanctuaries of vegetation
- Contribute to biodiversity goals (natural variety of plants, animals, and habitats)
Longer term.
- The native plantings provide sanctuaries for small native birds to not only survive but thrive, fantails/ pīwakawaka, grey warbler/ riroriro, and other small native birds have safe places to flourish and are being seen in large numbers
- Irrigation provides a haven for large native birds, significant numbers of oystercatchers/ tōrea, white-faced herons/ matuku moana and pūkeko are thriving on the optimised invertebrate community living under the moist soil
- Gusty, dusty, and dry summer winds are detrimental to pasture topsoil. Now mature native corridors are providing a natural reduction in wind velocity, which not only reduces the drying effects of the wind but also lowers the wind’s carrying capacity and provides wind erosion protection
- Together with the improved soil moisture and quality, a diverse range of habitats and native plant communities can flourish
- Pine shelterbelts are being replaced with native habitats further enhancing a clean, green image by the provision of visual screening, which in turn provides a regional identity or sense of place
