New Zealand Treecrops AssociationHistoric"A Lifetime Journey with Trees"- Jolyon Manning JP (Jolendale Park, Alexandra, Central Otago)The latest issue of the NZTCA Directory (January 2003) has served to conjure up some strong personal memories, reflections and forward looking dreams. 30 years is not a long time in the life of many trees yet the success of tree crop plantings to be seen now in many parts of this country has amply vindicated the vision of the early pioneers of our movement and materially influenced the shape and direction of tree planting for amenity and profit. Together with its older 'sister' rural-based tree planting organisation, the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association (now about 50 years old) these groups have transformed many landscapes and provided good leadership and inspiration to thousands of tree lovers throughout the land, including many who have lived and worked for most of their lives in the big cities. I think on reflection that the clarion call of the Rt Hon Duncan McIntyre for greater diversity of land use in the late 60's and early 70's set the scene for more varied commercial enterprise in horticulture. Looking at the list of NZTCA Annual General Meetings I well recall the splendid AGM gathering we had at the Shotover Junction near Queenstown in the autumn of 1980 and so enthusiastically led by Ernie New. At that time I presented a paper which included a reference to climate change, critical threshold values, and sunspot cycles. The great Clutha River had produced in recent times (1978) a "100-year flood" event somewhat reminiscent but much smaller than the historic 1878 flood. I publicly expressed the view that we should not be complacent and sure enough there was another similar event in 1980 - made more memorable through the virtual closure of the West Otago, Kelso township, in the upper reaches of the Pomahaka catchment of the Clutha. These events resonate at the present time with the prolonged but very important Resource Management consent hearings sought by Contact Energy Ltd for the continued operation of the big Clyde and Roxburgh hydro dams. As some readers will be aware we in Alexandra had 3 major 'mad-made' flood disasters in the 90's including the big 1999 flood that carried in this country's largest river a peak load of more than 3600 cubic metres per second over the dams - that's equivalent to 6 big freight train gross tonnages EVERY SECOND. Its a big story but back to the trees. Amongst my more vivid memories of the NZTCA was the sight of Roland Clark "nor'wester.." on the back of his tractor trailer crossing his farm like a present day "pied piper" extolling the virtues of planned farm shelter and of the informed contributions of Don McKenzie who wheeled in so much valuable insight from the DSIR. Then there were the busy periods assisting with the organisation of national conventions in Dunedin (1991) with the enthusiastic and practical leadership of Bronn Brown, and later in Clyde, Central Otago (1995) in a team led by Bill Nagle. Following an AGM in the Riccarton Racecourse when I presented a further paper I was generously invited to stand in as South Island Vice-President, but as I was serving on both the NZ Tourism Advisory Council and the NZ Forestry Council I really did not have time to give the desirable level of priority that the position deserved. Its the informative 'field days' that do so much to build confidence amongst the newcomers. Nut trees had never enjoyed such popularity amongst the new tree growers. Back in the 1950's many of us were influenced by the Men of the Trees crusade led by the charismatic if at times controversial Richard St Barbe Baker. It must be remembered that returned New Zealand servicemen from the North African deserts were profoundly disturbed by the advancement of the desert into abandoned croplands. I was subsequently elected President of the international branch based in Otago (1956) for several years. As the old warriors passed on the surviving wives became the primary stakeholders in this movement. Whilst the 'conservation' movement has advanced in recent decades under public sponsorship, strongly influenced by the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society and allied groups, we do well to remember that the Men of the Trees folk were motivated by a true spirit of good land and soil stewardship, desert and dry land reclamation and restoration. Then followed the Farm Forestry movement (beginning in 1951 in Northland under the inspirational leadership of Neil Barr) with solid backing from the New Zealand Forest Service extension division whose premature and unfortunate demise I still very much regret. It is encouraging that that movement is still in good heart however. I commend Joll Hosking's excellent account "Farm Forestry - The First 50 Years" and think that maybe it is time an equally well informed author might do something similar for the NZTCA - an onerous burden but a useful way of keeping the prominent early pioneering names alive. After all the success of both these organisations is to be seen in countless properties up and down the country where personal commitment and enterprise has transformed the countryside and added to the wealth of the nation. A wealth of both commercial farm profit and landscape amenity that enrichens all our lives and those in succeeding generations. We all have different lifetime stories of our personal acquaintances with tree planting and its rewards for ourselves and others in our communities. Over the years there have been a number of tree planting groups established in the provinces and local districts. One of the earliest in New Zealand was the North Otago Tree Planting Association (1935) made more memorable with the planting of special commemoration oak trees along the principal highways in that district to honour the memory of service men who lost their lives in the great wars. Under the very special pragmatic and visionary leadership of Dr Eric Stubbs (Oamaru GP) and Mr Syd Hurst (North Otago irrigation farmer) this group in the 60's spearheaded the formation of the unique Waitaki Lakes (and River) Committee to bring together all Upper Waitaki Valley stakeholders and public authorities in the creation of the largest man-made tree planting landscape amenity to frame the huge new hydro works in the district. My wife and I contributed materially to these plantings with tree seed we had specially selected and imported from the USA Great Plains 1930's "Dust Bowl" extensive and very well researched shelterbelt trials. We have continued our active association with that organisation to the present day. Similar lakeside plantings were initiated as part of the Upper Clutha hydro programme in the 1980's. Unfortunately, in both cases, there has been quite inadequate attention given to aftercare and ongoing maintenance that has dampened the original vision. Following protracted representations we have ourselves undertaken in the past several years a special lakeside tree-planting at Champagne Gully (Lake Dunstan) as a model for lakeshore amenity treecare. And a variety of species are now emerging in this very challenging exposed and extremely dry habitat. The advent of the NZTCA in the mid-70's rather coincided with the early beginnings of the 10-acre rural blocks sought by city dwellers as a countryside 'escape' with a view to a fresh retirement lifestyle option. The latter movement is being spectacularly accelerated at the present time with the approaching retirement of the first ranks of the 'baby boom' generation. Grapes, olives, walnuts and other treecrop species are all the rage. Many are shopping around for a stake in the unbroken succession of ambitious new lifestyle subdivisions - especially those located close to fine waterfronts - sea coasts, lakes and rivers - preferably with seasonally snow-capped mountain backdrops and the promise of regular warm sunny weather in most seasons. Of course prospective buyers are looking for some assurance of profit and access to good shopping and air travel facilities. The internet has greatly assisted to offset distance from former friends and relatives. The flowering 'conservation movement' has also attracted the attention of tree planting groups with special emphasis on the retention and augmentation of indigenous ecosystems. The Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society continues to take a prominent an influential role in Government circles. I have in recent times been part-time chairman of the Otago-Southland wilding tree management organisation with representation of key stakeholder groups. My presence relates to my longtime membership of the NZ Institute of Forestry of which organisation I was onetime national vice-president and Otago- Southland chairperson. In this province we had the formation of the Otago Tree Society (1978) which has endeavoured to encourage treecare and tree planting in public spaces with an accent on native species and I have appreciated the regular commitment of a small band of workers. Like many of these organisations today we seem to have lots of 'sleeping partners' whose spirit is willing but where the action is mostly somewhat remote but for the handful of really dedicated enthusiasts. I could also mention here in this context two international organisations with active New Zealand connections with which I have been associated in recent years. The NZ Arboricultural Association places emphasis on tree surgery and after care employing the latest technologies now available for selective high pruning and chippers employed in amenity plantings and highway protection. They have a most useful educational linkage with the Polytechnic Institutes throughout the country. This group has a history internationally dating back 80 years and I was personally much encouraged to be honoured with the Ronald Flood national award for lifetime tree care in the year 2000. The International Dendrology Soceithy (est. 1952 ) has now a very strong New Zealand membership and they sponsor a wide range of overseas trips where members can see some of the rarest trees in the world and gain insights from top botanical and tree loving professionals. So where does the NZTCA fit into the picture of tree planting for amenity and commercial production today ? From the outset there have been within the membership ranks of both this organisation and the 'sister' Farm Forestry movement some who have a love of tree planting for amenity and conservation, and others who are seeking to explore new avenues of commercial horticultural enterprise. As I have mentioned above it is my belief that the 'big event' for this and other similar groups in the next decade will be the move into many lifestyle subdivisions throughout the country of the first ranks of the 'baby boom' generation. (for a most fascinating and informative discussion on this topic may I strongly commend the book, "The Art of the Long View" by Peter Schwartz (1991) in which a most experienced international corporation executive examines forward looking scenario's). There will be thousands looking afresh at the role of trees in their newly chosen habitat - often for the first time in their lives. We should be actively seeking ways of welcoming them into our ranks and with them sharing the new lifestyle vision. Another dimension that I feel is deserving of more widespread attention is the place of 'semi-natural reserves' and privately owned blocks that embrace both indigenous and exotic trees and plants - a topic examined by Dr Brian Molloy (DSIR Landcare) in an important contribution to the 1989 annual convention of the NZ Ecological Society. Not all landscapes in New Zealand can be fitted into a pure indigenous tapestry and we need to foster (and celebrate) equally good tree care in other settings than those which might more easily qualify for national status as relatively unmodified indigenous ecosystems. On 30 April this year we will be celebrating at Jolendale Park (Bridge Hill, Alexandra) the establishment of a QEII National Trust for Open Space covenant for the permanent protection of the park we have put together in the past 42 years, in this the driest ecological district in New Zealand. We have offered the property as an outright gift to the QEII Trust and that is now under negotiation. The ceremony is being staged in the middle of the forthcoming NZ Institute of Forestry 75th Jubilee annual conference being held in Queenstown in conjuction with our Australian colleagues. I wish to emphasise on this occasion the important and generous role that the NZ Forest Service extension division played in the 60's, 70's and 80's (parallel I guess to the DSIR plants division assistance in the early days of the NZTCA). That public sector role I feel sure would be appreciated by many current and former members of the NZTCA and Farm Forestry movement and that contribution should not be lost to memory. And so I take this opportunity to pay tribute to my many friends in the NZTCA movement, to our indefatigable patron, Roland Clark, and others who have worked so hard and conscientiously over the years. Its always more easy to wave the banners in the early pioneering days of an exciting enterprise - a new thing - it needs real commitment and hard work to keep the flame burning and to refashion the vision. As with the Farm Forestry movement it is inevitable that we continue to lose from our ranks those special pioneers and it is important that the story of their contribution be kept alive. We all share responsibility for the corporate memory. Jolyon Manning JP 5 January 2003 Ye Early Treecroppers - please help us Record Our Roots...
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