Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Hinewai burns!
This a bad news! A quick segment of the TV news showed Hinewai, the life's work of Hugh Wilson of Akaroa, aflame! Lightning-strike, the report said and from the pictures it looked very bad. Hugh's innovative work in re-clothing the slopes of his 'farm' by utilising gorse as a nurse crop has been an inspiration for me and many other 're-vegetators' who don't subscribe to the use of slash and burn methods for establishing native forests in areas they've been largely lost, as they were on the peninsula that Hugh lives on. He'll be badly hit by this fire. When I find out more, I'll post again. Meanwhile, I've my fingers crossed for Hugh.
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3 comments:
GraveDodger at No Minister posted on this yesterday evening(8.46pm).Seems he knew Hugh at College nearly 60yrs ago. GD writes of his reservations of using Gorse in that way at that sort of location. Worth a read. I'd be interested in your thoughts on what he writes.
As you say this is devastating for Hugh Wilson.
GraveDodger finishes his post with this comment:- "I guess Kia Kaha would be appropriate as a wish for Hugh as he contemplates his future"
This is terrible, Hugh doesn't deserve this, he is one of the most inspirational people I have had the pleasure to meet.
At 15:26 today:
LATEST: Firefighters hope to have a large bush fire in a remote area of Banks Peninsula under control by the end of the day.
The fire, which was likely started by a lightning strike about 1pm yesterday, now covers about 300 hectares of bush at Stony Bay, including the Hinewai Reserve.
Christchurch City Council, emergency services and about 30 rural volunteer firefighters had been fighting the blaze since last night.
Overnight winds pushed the fire to Stony Bay Peak, about five kilometres from Akaroa, spreading it across 400 hectares of bush at the peak of the fire.
The blaze was visible from Akaroa.
The Christchurch City Council said an investigation into the cause of the fire was continuing, but it was probably started by a lightning strike.
Four houses were evacuated at dusk yesterday because of concerns winds could push the fire towards them. The residents were expected to be able to return to their homes tonight.
A resident, who did not want to be named, said the fire was "pretty damn scary".
It was also a shame for the hard work done at the Hinewai Reserve, she said.
Principal rural fire officer Keith Marshall said access to the site was limited and firefighting was continuing with helicopters today.
"Right now, we have around 80 per cent of the fire's perimeter under control. We are monitoring strong nor'west wind gusts this afternoon and will continue our efforts to put out the fire today and tomorrow."
The Hinewai Reserve, managed by renowned botanist Hugh Wilson, includes more than 12,000ha of gorse and regenerating native bush. It has more than 20 walking tracks, including part of the Banks Peninsula Track.
The council has asked residents to avoid using Long Bay Rd to keep it clear for emergency vehicles.
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