“Once you give nature a start, it can… just go gangbusters,” says Phil Bradfield, chair of the Grovetown Incorporated Society, Te Whānau Hou.
Referencing the hundreds of thousands of native trees planted in Grovetown Lagoon by volunteers over a 25-year period, Phil explains that the Marlborough wetland now supports a variety of rare flora and fauna, which have flourished in its nutrient-rich waters and fertile soil.
Once a polluted backwater, overrun with weeds and neighbouring what was once the largest piggery in the Southern Hemisphere, the lagoon has undergone extensive rubbish clearance, invasive weed removal and trapping by society members, local iwi and volunteers.
Now, it is a real “hot spot” and “probably one of the best birding sites in Marlborough”, Phil says.
The sighting of three crested grebes at Grovetown Lagoon last summer marked a first for Marlborough and was an indication of how far restoration efforts have come.
Known to be rare in northern South Island regions, there are hopes the vulnerable birds may return for another season. Recently, local photographers installed three nesting boxes in the calm waters of the oxbow lake, to encourage their return to the area.
With the loss of 95 percent of ancient wetlands nationwide to agriculture and development, Phil explains that restoring sites like Grovetown is part of a wider mission to restore the biodiversity we have lost and, crucially, “look after what we’ve got left.”
Recent work at the lagoon includes a planting session by Marlborough Boys’ College students, who planted native wetland species along a spring feeding into the lake. The plants will eventually overhang the waterway, providing vital shade to allow native fish such as eels and inanga to thrive, Phil explains.
Ongoing planting, outdoor education and development of the public track circling the lake are all on the cards as the wetland continues to evolve, Phil says.
Eager birders are also hoping to catch sight of the elusive and critically endangered bittern, which has fewer than 1000 mature birds left in the wild.
For Phil, places like Grovetown Lagoon offer a glimpse into Marlborough’s pre-settler natural environment and show the value of having nature close to home.
“People love wild places,” he says.
“In Marlborough, we’re surrounded by fantastic little pockets of the natural world, but close to Blenheim, it’s very urban. With over 30,000 hectares of vineyards, it’s really important to have special little places like this.”
Standing by a newly-planted forest that was once a grazing paddock for sheep, Phil reflects on the progress made over the last 25 years:
“I’m immensely proud. It’s been thousands and thousands of volunteer hours that have gone in. I think the work that’s been done here is remarkable.”
