Successful project profiles

Jennifer and Lance Gravatt - Iffley Meadow Farms Limited

Jennifer and Lance Gravatt are passionate landowners.

In 2005 they started a major project to restore land including a wetland ecosystem of a tributary of the Hoteo River, which forms part of their Tomorata farm in Rodney.

Two gullies which the Gravatt’s fenced and planted in 2005. Some plants are already head-high in many places

The gully and wetland the Gravatt’s plan to fence-off and plant, with Environmental Initiatives Funding, from May to October this year. The project will be the couple’s most ambitious yet

The Gravatt's farm adjoins a Department of Conservation reserve and forms part of a corridor with the Tomorata Dune lakes system.

With the help of grants from ARC's Environmental Initiatives Fund (EIF) the couple, in the past two years, have completed 3.5kms of fencing and planted more than 10,000 trees.

The project has received support from the Trees for Survival Programme and Department of Conservation's biodiversity fund. In 2005 and 2006 the Gravatts with help from local volunteers and students planted 3,000 native trees and erected 520 metres of fencing which has helped protect one of the gullies on their land.

Last year, the Gravatts fenced-off and planted another large gully on their farm and eradicated plant and animal pests on their property.

The couple will continue their work this year as they plan to fence-off and revegetate another gully.