Having a field day... literally

Today Mrs H and myself joined many of our valley neighbours at a field day on one of the farms at the bottom of the valley (seen here on the left of the picture).

It was a great experience and I've learned a lot about the farm's, Environment Canterbury's and Ngai Tahu's (the local Maori iwi/tribe) involvement in developing large tracts of the lower Kaituna Valley. They're doing a wonderful job; the renowned Kaituna orchards may well have been converted into sheep and beef finishing paddocks, but the restoration of habitats and implementation of riparian strips to ensure river and lake health are to be applauded.

As part of the talks and tour round the farm we took our 4x4 up onto the hills high above the farm, giving us wonderful views down the lower valley towards Mount Bradley, as well as panoramic views out to Kaitorete spit with the ocean behind and Lake Ellesmere/Waihora and the mountains in the distance.

It's great to have a whole new view on our backyard (figuratively that is - our place is up around the corner towards Mt Herbert, so isn't pictured here) and it does make you appreciate what a wonderful part of the world we live in.

Go large to take it all in!