Rai Valley Smallholding
Cows once walked across a stream on the 8.5ha Rai Valley property where Michael and Marion Payton have lived for 40 years. However, its banks had become deeply incised by flooding.
Michael read about riparian restoration being done under the Te Hoiere/Pelorus Project, Googled it and found a number for catchment care coordinator, Aubrey Tai.
Michael Payton (Photo: Penny Wardle)
"I didn't want to see the banks go back to blackberry,” he says.
The Paytons are now delighted with planting of over 700 native trees.
"It'll do the creek good, helping clear the water up,” says Michael. “There were a lot of eels here and they should benefit.”
The seedlings are continuing to grow and fill in the area. Michael is keeping up the maintenance, weed eating the site often to keep it tidy.
