2009. Woolston Barrage and Woolston Wharfs, Heathcote River

I parked my car at Opawa Rd Bridge by Heathcote River, as I wanted to walk downriver to see Woolston Barrage and Woolston Wharfs. By the bridge a sign stated riverside grass wouldn't be cut from December to May to protect whitebait spawning grounds. A nearby info board described the life cycle of whitebait Galaxias maculatus.


2009. Whitebait Life Cycle Info Board beside Heathcote River, Clarendon Tce, near Opawa Rd Bridge, Christchurch

I walked downriver along Clarendon Tce and passed below Opawa motorway bridge, then a wooden-pile railway bridge, which had a black and white sign:

BRIDGE 7
MAIN SOUTH LINE
HEATHCOTE RIVER


2009. Clarendon Tce view of Rail & Motorway Bridges over Heathcote River, Christchurch


2009. Heathcote River Footbridge, Clarendon Tce, Christchurch


2009. Grey Gulls, Heathcote River Footbridge, Clarendon Tce, Christchurch

I passed a footbridge over Heathcote River, with a line of grey gulls perched on the handrail. I greeted two boys going fishing. At the end of Clarendon Tce, Heathcote River bent towards the Pacific. On the opposite bend I saw old Christchurch Quay by Ferry Rd.


2009. Heathcote River, Clarendon Tce, Christchurch

I crossed Radley St by Radley St Bridge. Across the bridge, I saw a Mobil service station on Ferry Rd. Beyond the bridge, on grassy, willowy riverside, I saw a derelict warehouse, walls covered in graffiti. A wall sign stated:

THE
TATTERSFIELD
BEDDING COMPANY LIMITED

I walked a dirt path beside Heathcote River, the river on my left and backs of Heathcote St businesses across the river. A graffiti artist had changed a warehouse sign from NO PARKING to NO BARKING. House fences on my right were graffiti scrawled, even some willow trees graffiti sprayed. Turbid water & reeds were polluted: rotting clothes, paper, spray cans, a sunken TV. Clean, green NZ huh? Ducks didn't mind the dirty water.


2009. Radley Park by Heathcote River view of Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. Radley Park view near Woolston Barrage, Heathcote River, Christchurch

Further on, Radley Park had tarsealed footpaths and distant views of Castle Rock, The Tors, Witch Hill in the Port Hills.

I stood on a footbridge and coolpixed Woolston Barrage, with Heathcote River flowing along Woolston Loop. Beyond Woolston Barrage (completed 1993) was Woolston Cut (completed 1986) a wide canal cutting across the loop, controlling tidal and flood waters.

Further downriver, Woolston Cut received waters from Woolston Loop again, continuing down Heathcote River to Avon-Heathcote Estuary. Graffiti polluted two Radley Park info boards: FLOOD PRONE HEATHCOTE and WHARVES ON THE HEATHCOTE RIVER.


2009. Woolston Barrage & Port Hills view from Heathcote River Footbridge, Radley Park, Christchurch


2009. Woolston Barrage Footbridge: start of upriver Heathcote Loop ~ aka Woolston Loop, Christchurch

I crossed a footbridge over the start of Woolston Loop, where water was scummy and turbid. I walked the tarsealed footpath by Woolston Cut, crossed Rutherford St Bridge (completed 1986) and continued to the end of Woolston Cut, where Woolston Loop downriver waters returned to the original Heathcote River course.

A padlocked steel gate with spikes on top stopped me following the south riverbank towards Heathcote River Bridge, where the road went towards Lyttelton Tunnel.


2009. Downriver Woolston Cut & Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. Heathcote River north bank view below Woolston Cut of Heathcote Valley, Horotane Valley & Avoca Valley, Port Hills, Christchurch

I backtracked a bit, crossed the footbridge over Woolston Cut and walked the north bank to Heathcote River bridge. Along the way I watched a shag diving and fishing and had views of Heathcote Valley, Horotane Valley and Avoca Valley in the Port Hills.


2009. North Bank Woolston Cut view to downriver end of Woolston Loop & Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. North Bank Woolston Cut downriver view of Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. North Bank Woolston Cut upriver view towards Woolston Barrage, Heathcote River, Christchurch

I returned upriver following the north bank along a tarsealed footpath by Woolston Cut. I passed Woolston Barrage again. Nearby I found a concrete bollard with a bronze strip stating:

UNION WHARF
est 1857
Local and imported timber and coal were landed here.


2009. Union Wharf & Footbridge, Heathcote River North Bank, Christchurch

Further on, beside a grassy track another concrete bollard with bronze strip:

LANGDOWNS WHARF
est c. 1863
Limestone landed here was burnt in kilns for use by tanners and brickworks.


2009. Langdowns Wharf, Heathcote River North Bank, Christchurch


2009. Graffiti, Heathcote St business, Heathcote River North Bank, Christchurch

Beside Heathcote River I walked past houses, willows and flax. I crossed a duckboard bridge over a dry stream. I snapped the back of a graffiti-walled business, and found a third concrete bollard, sans bronze strip, smothered by blackberries near Radley St Bridge. Dead grass along Heathcote River bank showed someone had sprayed, not only killing grass, but polluting the water.


2009. Christchurch Quay, Heathcote River, by Ferry Rd, Christchurch

Heathcote River bank went upriver beside noisy Ferry Rd a bit, before bending by two huge poplars and a strawberry tree towards Richardson Tce. On the riverbend, another concrete bollard with bronze strip:

CHRISTCHURCH QUAY
est 1851
Sited well upriver this early wharf landed cargo and settlers' goods.

Before the bollard, a wooden fishing wharf. Near the wharf, an info board:

"CHRISTCHURCH QUAY

Sailing vessels brought cargo and settlers' belongings as far as this point - Christchurch Quay, also known as Radley Wharf.

The settlers trudged over the Bridle Path from Lyttelton, crossed the river at Ferrymead and walked along the muddy pot-holed Ferry Road to reach town.

Carrying goods up the river was costly. At first freight charges from Lyttelton to Christchurch Quay were almost as much as from London to Lyttelton.

In later years, the railway replaced the river for transport, because of cost, speed, and the dangers to craft of crossing the shifting Sumner Bar."


2009. Christchurch Quay Info Board, Heathcote River, by Ferry Rd / Richardson Tce cnr, Christchurch


2009. Heathcote River, Richardson Tce, Christchurch

2009. Heathcote River, Richardson Tce, Christchurch

I walked upriver along Richardson Tce, parallel to Clarendon Tce, back to my car. Walk time: 2.5 hours, incl coolpix stops.


2009. Clarendon Tce, Heathcote River, Road & Motorway Bridges, Richardson Tce, Christchurch


2009. Ngai Tahi Maori swamp fishing Info Board beside Opawaho River, aka Heathcote River, Christchurch

Near the rail and motorway bridges, I read a graffiti- sprayed info board, OUTPOST IN THE SWAMP, describing ancient Ngai Tahu Maori trekking between Kaiapoi and Rapaki, and stopping by Opawaho River to fish for eels and lampreys, and paddle their flax canoes in the swamp.


2009. Aynsley Tce, Heathcote River, other side of Opawa Rd Bridge near Clarendon Tce, Christchurch

Coda: Aynsley Tce, Clarendon Tce, Richardson Tce & Ferry Rd were damaged by liquefaction, cracks & slumping during the 2010-2011 quakes. During that time I drove my son daily to Christchurch Polytech near Richardson Tce, so I knew every quake crack, bump, lump, pothole & quake trashed bldg along Richardson Tce & Ferry Rd.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.

2009. Riverlaw Tce - Aynsley Tce Walkway

One Sunday afternoon I parked my car by Tennyson St Bridge, as I wanted to walk Riverlaw Tce and Aynsley Tce along a Heathcote River meander. My Christchurch city map showed the meander as a reverse S.


2009. Merchiston Garden Sign, Riverlaw Tce beside Heathcote River, Christchurch

I walked downriver along Riverlaw Tce past birches, poplars and willows. I passed St. Martins Seventh Day Adventist Church. Further on, I read visitors instructions on a green "MURCHISTON is a PRIVATE GARDEN" sign.

A man and his dog walked by. A girl in black jogged by. At that point Heathcote River was narrow and curved towards Wilsons Rd.


2009. Riverlaw Tce, Heathcote River, Eastern Tce, near Wilsons Rd Bridge, Christchurch

At Wilsons Rd Bridge I watched a mother riding her bike, with a towbar pulling her infant on a bike, with an older child following on another bike. Beyond Wilsons Rd Bridge on the opposite bank, I saw four cyclists pedalling upriver by Eastern Tce.

Near the end of Riverlaw Tce I turned left along a tarsealed track, and walked past St Martins Rd Bridge where Heathcote River widened.


2009. Heathcote River, Metal Footbridge, Derret Pl by Riverlaw Tce, Christchurch


2009. Eastern Tce, Heathcote River, Riverlaw Tce, Christchurch

By a wide bend in the river, I passed a metal footbridge by Derrett Pl. I passed Beckford Rd Bridge and a wooden footbridge by Armstrong Ave. In the distance I glimpsed a pine-forested gorge and a bike track up Mount Vernon Reserve in the Port Hills.


2009. Heathcote River, Riverlaw Tce, Christchurch


2009. Armstrong Ave by Heathcote River: View of Mount Vernon Reserve Gorge, Port Hills


2009. Hansen Park, Heathcote River, Riverlaw Tce, Christchurch

I crossed a duckboard bridge over a tributary and passed many ducks below willows on the grassy riverbank, with houses on my right and Hansen Park across Heathcote River on my left.

I crossed another duckboard bridge, and walked King George V Reserve along a gravel path through native bush plantings with a wooden deck on my left, and riverside houses on my right.

I emerged from the gravel path at Aynsley Tce where Heathcote River widened more.


2009. Hansen Park, Heathcote River, end of Riverlaw Tce, Christchurch


2009. Hansen Park, Heathcote River, Private Land between Riverlaw Tce & Aynsley Tce, Christchurch


2009. Heathcote River, near start of Aynsley Tce & King George V Reserve, Christchurch

I passed a concrete footbridge where a kayaker paddled by. I was irritated by traffic noise on Aynsley Tce. On the opposite bank I saw a teenager on a Vespa spinning on grass, impressing his mates. A hoon car with loud exhaust roared off, irritating me. No cops walking a beat.


2009. Hansen Park, Heathcote River, Aynsley Tce, Christchurch


2009. Heathcote River, Aynsley Tce, Christchurch


2009. Aynsley Tce Info Board about Aynsley Family, Christchurch

By Garlands Rd I passed another wooden footbridge, read an info board about the Aynsley family, examined a dead grey gull on the riverbank, then I watched a family feed ducks on the opposite bank by Opawa Children's Library.


2009. Heathcote River by Opawa Childrens Library, Christchurch

I crossed Opawa Rd Bridge and began my walk upriver to my car. Footbridge signs I passed forbade motorbikes. Never mind the Vespa's shenanigans.


2009. Heathcote River & Aynsley Tce view from Opawa Rd Bridge. Port Hills backdrop

In a pointillists painting, I ambled along Louisson Pl past Opawa School, enjoying the golden glow of late afternoon sun on the river, quilts of yellow and red autumn leaves floating by. Big hillside houses above Aynsley Tce reflected sunlight. (Some would be damaged in the 04.09.10 and 22.02.11 quakes).

I dawdled along a shared tarsealed track with bikers by Hansen Park. Along the way I greeted dogs walking their owners, carrying plastic poop bags. Beyond Hansen Park, I passed Rudolf Steiner School and continued along Fifield Tce.


2009. King George V Reserve & Heathcote River by Hansen Park track, Christchurch

Between St Martins Rd Bridge and Wilsons Rd Bridge, I dawdled a dirt path and kicked my way through poplar leaf-litter. I squeezed past two pairs of legs, while ladies chatted on a riverside bench.


2009. Heathcote River, Wilsons Rd Bridge. Witch Hill, Port Hills backdrop

Back at Wilsons Rd Bridge, I drank my CocaCola and snapped Witch Hill in the distance on the Port Hills. I returned to my car via Eastern Tce. Walk time: 2 hours 25 minutes.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.

2009. Round Beckenham Bend

In Christchurch suburbia, as I wanted to walk five terraces round Beckenham bend, I parked my car on Heathcote River bank near South Christchurch Library. Along Hunter Tce, I stopped at a concrete footbridge over Heathcote River and looked at a yellow sign across the river:

BECKENHAM
BOWLING
CLUB

I watched two grey seagulls scoffing KFC litter-scraps, then crossed Hunter Tce to look at a black-painted, prone rifleman on a white wall, which advertised in black:

CASHMERE
SB RIFLE CLUB


2009. Malcolm Avenue Bridge over Heathcote River, Beckenham, Christchurch

I passed CASHMERE CLUB garden then followed a dirt path downriver on a grassy bank. I crossed busy Malcolm Ave bridge, and found a friendly black and white cat seated on a wooden bench beside the bridge.

The cat schmoozed while I read Jenny the donkey info board beside Heathcote River. Jenny, ex circus donkey, had grazed Heathcote River bank and entertained Thorrington School kids before dying in 1970. Info board:

"Jenny didn't like horse floats so at Christmas time when our family went to South Brighton for 6 weeks holiday, I had to walk her there..."


2009. Jenny the Donkey Info Board, Heathcote River below Malcolm Ave Bridge, Beckenham, Christchurch


2009. Boat Ramp, Heathcote River below Thorrington School, Beckenham, Christchurch

Below Thorrington School I walked the tarsealed donkey track and stopped to look at a small boat-ramp by Heathcote River, decorated with luridly painted poles. Beside Heathcote River I watched ducks swimming and passed a lichen covered concrete sign:

DANGER 11 000 VOLT M.E.D. CABLE


2009. Heathcote river between Waimea Tce & Sloan Tce, Beckenham, Christchurch


2009. Heathcote River between Waimea Tce & Centaurus Rd, Beckenham, Christchurch

I passed another concrete footbridge by Sloan Tce, and through willows, alders and birches I glimpsed Bowenvale Valley, Port Hills. I walked round the bend on Centaurus Rd and followed steep Heathcote River bank, planted thickly with birches, dodoneas, pittosporums, cabbage trees, flax and toe-toe grass, to stop wayward motorists having a dip.


2009. Heathcote River & Iron Bridge between Waimea Tce & Centaurus Rd, Beckenham, Christchurch


2009. Iron Bridge over Heathcote River, opposite Bowenvale Ave, Beckenham, Christchurch

Opposite Bowenvale Ave I crossed an iron road bridge, and saw two lovers lying smooching on Heathcote River grassy bank. Centaurus Rd footpath followed Heathcote River, so I was glad to fork left along a dirt path avoiding traffic noise.


2009. Heathcote River beside Centaurus Rd, Farnlea Reserve & Eastern Tce, Beckenham, Christchurch

In Farnlea Reserve, behind Centaurus Rd shopping centre I walked a gravel path and found a patio with steps coming down from the shops. Beside the steps, on two wooden posts, two bronze plaques sang praises to Christchurch soroptimists:

"FARNLEA RESERVE

Developed by Soroptimists of Christchurch
in cooperation with the
Christchurch City Council and the Community

To celebrate 50 years of
Soroptimist International in Christchurch

1949-1999...

Received International recognition for
Exceptional Service in Area of Environment...

Creation of a nature reserve with permanent
art works, community project, coordinated
by CHRISTCHURCH Soroptimists"


2009. Soroptimists' Eel Patio beside Heathcote River, opposite Eastern Tce, Beckenham, Christchurch

Rocks were embedded in the patio with bronze eels swimming towards rocks.

On Farnlea Reserve gravel track, I greeted an elderly couple pruning shrubs beside Heathcote River at the bottom of their garden. I walked along Palatine Tce beside Heathcote River. On the opposite lower bank I saw Eastern Tce.

I passed a third concrete footbridge opposite a kids' playground, where four adult cyclists stood chatting by their bikes. I turned and coolpixed Sugarloaf in the Port Hills, while the cyclists, including two on a tandem, rode off.

I saw BECKENHAM PARK on the opposite Heathcote River bank, and passed a metal footbridge by Buxton Tce while two neighbours chatted in a driveway. As it was late afternoon and chilly, Pacific winds blew. I crossed busy Tennyson St road bridge.

I returned upriver to my car via Eastern Tce and Waimea Tce. Along the way I coolpixed ducks and autumn trees in Beckenham Park. At the public toilet by Beckenham School, a denim-clad bloke stuffed plastic bags full of clothes into a car boot - swiped from a charity clothing-bin outside Beckenham School.

Easter Sunday, 5.15 pm, the bloke and his driver weren't searching for Easter eggs. Beckenham obviously didn't have cops walking a beat.


2009. Centaurus Rd pipes spewing Bowenvale Valley soil erosion into Heathcote River, Beckenham, Christchurch

On Eastern Tce I passed ash trees and big tree stumps. Below Centaurus Rd, I saw two huge concrete pipes, one spewing turbid, clayey muck into Heathcote River, soil erosion from Bowenvale Valley, Port Hills.

A learner-driver passed me along Waimea Tce. I'd seen him lurching along several times during my two hour walk round Beckenham bend.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.

2009. Omahu Bush Tracks and Trees

2009. Gibraltar Rock Carpark, Summit Road. Coopers Knobs backdrop, Port Hills Christchurch

One Thursday afternoon, I drove along Summit Road and parked my car at Gibraltar Rock carpark beside Summit Road. I wanted to walk a big circuit down Prendergasts Track and return through Omahu Bush via Kirks Track.


2009. Start of Prendergasts Track, Summit Road. Gibraltar Rock & south Canterbury Plains backdrop

I found a GIBRALTAR ROCK AND PRENDERGASTS TRACK wooden sign, with no dogs, no smoking, no bikes pics below. At the top of Prendergasts Track I walked through a ferny bit of Omahu Bush, passed through a gate, and admired the orangey, flaky bark of tree fuchsias, Fuchsia excorticata.

I emerged into grassland by the east side of Gibraltar Rock, and saw masses of gorse, Ulex europaeus on Omahu Bush trackside.


2009. Prendergasts Track view of Gibraltar Rock north face, Port Hills, Christchurch

I passed a junction with a sign pointing to Gibraltar Rock, as I'd already climbed pyramid-shaped Gibraltar Rock. It had rained the night before, and although it was mid afternoon, autumn sunshine hadn't dried mown grass on wide Prendergasts Track, which was slippery on steep sections.

Once I slipped on my bum, so hard I heard a click in my head and wondered what vertebra I'd ricked? Thereafter I walked carefully past masses of trackside gorse smothering the hillside.


2009. Prendergasts Track gorse & cabbage trees. Lake Ellesmere backdrop


2009. Prendergasts Track gorse. Lake Ellesmere backdrop

As I'd seen far too much gorse polluting the Port Hills, I wondered why Lincoln University and University of Canterbury biology students and lecturers were sitting on their brains and not providing effective biological control of gorse?

It was a cop-out that farmers and ecologists said gorse was a nursery plant for native plants, that gorse yellow flowers provided pollen for honey bees, and already introduced insect bio- controllers needed time to do their gorse chomping. The only bee hives I'd see on the Port Hills were near the top of Worsleys Track.

Over the last six months, evidence before my eyes was that Port Hills gorse infestation bested bio-control or spraying. Someone had sprayed Prendergasts Track gorse - ineffective, as green gorse still flourished behind unsightly dead gorse, stopping me seeing Omahu Bush properly.


2009. Prendergast Track view of Gibraltar Rock south face


2009. Prendergasts Track view of gorse infestation both sides of Omahu Bush

I dawdled downwards past the cool eastside of Gibraltar Rock, and looked back at the southern face of Gibraltar Rock and the highest Coopers Knob (573m) which I'd climbed before. I passed a wooden bench, and when gorse diminished I entered kanuka bush.

Near the end of Prendergasts Track, I walked under cool kanuka arches, and at track's end I came across a gate with a Cholecalciferal warning sign on the gatepost - to kill Aussie possums. Like gorse fencers, nitwits who'd originally brought possums to NZ had much to answer for.


2009. Prendergasts Track Kanuka, Kunzea ericoides, Omahu Bush

I turned left down less slippery Kirks Track through more kanuka bush. I walked over leaf-litter, mossy rocks and damp clay track, while passing ferns, whiteywoods, pittosporums and mostly kanuka, Kunzea ericoides.

I passed another wooden bench on my left, and off-track I saw a green plastic bucket with a net inside containing leaf-litter. Further on, off-track I saw a bigger white net, strung up like a hammock, to catch more leaf-litter?


2009. Kirks Track Kanuka, Kunzea ericoides, Omahu Bush

I came across a kahikatea white pine trunk entwined with a matai black pine trunk, beside a bent tree fern. Below the trunks green and white signs stated:

KAHIKATEA WHITE PINE
Dacrycarpus dacrydiodes

MATAI BLACK PINE
Prumnopitys taxifolia


2009. Kirks Track entwined Kahikatea white pine & Matai black pine, Omahu Bush

The kahikatea white pine was not as big as kahikateas I'd seen at Deans Bush, Riccarton, but its roots twisted over matai black pine roots. White pine and black pine were misnomers, as the white pine had dark-grey, flaky bark, and the black pine had grey and reddish-brown flaky bark.


2009. Kirks Track Silver Fern, Cyathea dealbata, Omahu Bush

Further along Kirks Track, I saw another green and white sign below a tall tree: KOWHAI, Sophora microphilla - a deciduous legume tree, with masses of yellow flowers, NZ's national flower. Along Kirks Track I saw bits of broken fern leaf and guessed it was a silver fern when I came across a junction sign:

<- KIRKS TRACK ->
TO RHODES TRACK ->

I didn't walk down Rhodes Track as it went from cool Omahu Bush into hot afternoon sunshine across the valley. Beyond the junction, two more tree signs stated:

WHITEYWOOD
MAHOE
Melicytus ramiflorus

SILVER FERN
PONGA
Cyathea dealbata


2009. Kirks Track Silver Ferns, Cyathea dealbata, Omahu Bush


2009. Kirks Track Silver Fern, Cyathea dealbata, Omahu Bush

Someone had named native trees along Kirks Track, the first time I'd seen such signs in the Port Hills. Climbing upwards, I left kanuka bush for a while, and followed a trickling stream on my right. Omahu Bush changed to mixed bush. Another tree sign:

WINEBERRY
MAKOMAKO
Aristotelea serrata

2009. Kirks Track northwards view of Coopers Knobs, Port Hills

On my right, I passed an old, fenceless style and zigzagged upwards with glimpses of Coopers Knobs through breaks in the canopy. I passed kanuka and gorse again and passed another sign:

KAIKOMAKO
Pennantia corymbosa


2009. Kirks Track Kaikomako, Pennantia corymbosa, Omahu Bush

Kaikomako had purple to blackish berries. So many NZ bush plants had purple berries.

Zigzagging up Kirks Track, I passed unnamed and named trees: CABBAGE TREE, Cordyline australis; TREE FUCHSIA, KOTUKUTUKU, Fuchsia excorticata; KANUKA, Kunzea ericoides; whiteywoods; pittosporums; SOFT TREE FERN, Cyathea smithii (darker green leaves, similar shape to silver ferns, but without silvery ventral leaf surfaces).


2009. Kirks Track Wooden Bridge, Omahu Bush

I crossed a wooden bridge over the stream, and further up while sitting on another wooden bench, I quaffed CocaCola and enjoyed views through a break in Omahu Bush of Lake Ellesmere and the Pacific. I saw that Kirks Track dropped down the ridge below Gibraltar Rock, contoured around another ridge through Omahu Bush and went beside the stream up to Summit Road.


2009. Kirks Track southwards view through Omahu Bush gap


2009. Kirks Track Lancewoods, Omahu Bush

I passed lancewoods and FIVE-FINGER shrubs, Pseudopanax arboreus. I coolpixed a native wood pigeon staring at me from a branch. On other Port Hills walks, I'd seen small flocks of pigeons flying in the abyss, searching for berries.

All along Kirks Track, I'd passed PEPPER TREES, HOROPITO, Pseudowintera colorata, with their pale green dorsal leaf surfaces, pale grey ventral leaf surfaces, tinged with wine-red edges.


2009. Kirks Track Native Wood Pigeon, Omahu Bush

Slogging uphill, I passed a huge BROADLEAF, Grisilinea littoralis, then passed tree fuchsias before reaching another gate by Summit Road.


2009. Omahu Bush Info Board, Summit Road, Port Hills, Christchurch

I coolpixed Omahu Bush info board and walked up Summit Road to my car. My circuit walk took 2 hours 20 minutes, including stops for pics and rests. I'd had Omahu Bush tracks and trees to myself, and was impressed by Gama Foundation and Summit Road Society track maintenance and signs.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.

See NZ Bio-Control of Gorse Ulex europaeus