Hosted by Les and Gail , Katikati, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
The late Gordon Atkinson. (For.Dips) Forester, of significant experience.
Murray Redpath (BSc), Tree Cropping Woodlands Consultant; President (1996), Bay of Plenty Treecrops Association Inc.
"Tree Cropping Woodlands" comprise either native or introduced species of trees and shrubs. These are managed intensively for the production of high-return tree crops. Harvest times vary.
"Coppice with Standards" is one of the major systems used. All of the crop is planted at the first year with spacing and an all over species pattern that allows the medium and long term trees sufficient space in which to grow after a thinning to reduce all paired standard trees to one.
Host's Comments (in green):
On a wet winter Sunday a hardy band of would-be tree planters gathered at our developing property and developing house - Ecoworks.
The outdoor cum indoor furniture and concrete floor and the newly completed deck made muddy feet not a problem, so we tried to make ourselves as comfortable as we could and prepared to listen and learn.
Here we learned about:
and the differences between:
- how a tree grows and exists (parts of a tree);
- Conifers and Hardwoods
- Light Demanders and Shade Tolerant species
- Monopodial and Sympodial trees
- Wet and Dry Area species
- Pioneers, Post-Pioneers, Pre-Climax & Climax species
- Frost Hardy & Frost Weak trees
- Wind Firm & Wind Weak trees,
- Deciduous & Evergreen species
- Three basic rooting systems
- Flowers, and Seed Dispersal
A break in the weather allowed us to get outside where Murray explained lots about our land in particular by digging samples and told us about things in general like:
- "Geology" - Topography (Flat, Rolling & Steep: - 30deg & +30deg slopes)
- Rocks: Igneous, Metamorphic & Sedimentary
- "Pedology" - Soil Mineral, Soil Organic (Sand, Silt, Clay)
- Wet Soils & Dry Soils (with suitable tree species)
- Volcanic Soils
- Gum Soils
- Shaded & Full Sun Soils (with suitable tree species)
- Soil Chemical Plant Foods & their Annual Management Balance
- "Forest" (Bush & Plantation) & Paddock (Horticultural & Farm) Soils (Bush Area)
- How a Forest Soil Functions (Structure, Temperature, Moisture, Flora & Fauna)
- Topography: Flat to Steep Gradings (On grassland area)
- Soil types: Sand, Silt & Loam of fine to gravelly consistency (Road cuttings)
- Hydrological: dry to Liquid conditions re watering, mulching or draining (Wet Area)
- Vegetation Cover: Bare, grasses, herbs, low scrub, high scrub, bush or woodland
- Soil Erosion of Effected Land areas (Road Cuttings)
- Areas bearing natural woodland regeneration (Manuka and Across Stream)
- Deciding on Crop Objectives with Economic Crop Areas (Looking at sites)
- Road and Tracking Lines with Density for Economic Extraction (Information)
- Thoughts for thinning and mature fellings with various forms of extraction (Information)
- Quick and simple "Zip" land surveys on steep and flat topography (In practice groups)
By the end our heads reeled with our newly found knowledge and hoped that we could remember it long enough to put into practice. We were suitably aided by copious notes and actual samples and the wealth of information provided by Gordon and Murray. An extensive display was set up for our perusal and enabled us to purchase any books we wanted with a discount as for NZ Tree Crops Association members.
I must admit SOME of us didn't find the "Zip" land survey either quick or simple and tried again at a later time to make more sense of it!
A reporter from the local newspaper interviewed and photographed Gordon and Murray near some previously planted Italian Alders (Alnus cordata) .
Scribed by Gail and Les, 1996. Last updated:
2008 February 24
http://www.nzero.co.nz/treecrop/treework.htm