A little valley near Duntroon, which featured as Aslan’s camp in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe film, is being protected due to its ancient natural treasures.
Prehistoric limestone fossils dating back 23 million years, endangered marsh grass and freshwater crayfish are three reasons why the Lower Waitaki South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee has allocated funding to protect the biodiversity of the valley.
The partnership project at ‘Anatini’ will receive funding of $13,000 from Environment Canterbury’s Immediate Steps Programme and a contribution of $10,000 from the QEII National Trust, along with the contributions from landowners John and Margaret Hore.
Protecting the biodiversity of the valley
The funding will enable the land to become a QEII covenant, safeguarding the natural features of wetland and limestone escarpment – which featured as a location in the 2005 ‘Narnia’ film. Fencing and weed control will also contribute to protecting the local flora and fauna.
The wetland itself has been fenced from livestock for about 30 years and is already well-established with native plants, such as toetoe and bronze tussocks but the funding will enable a wider buffer area to be fenced and more planting to take place. A public walkway is also planned – the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail passes through the site and it is also part of the Vanished World fossil trail.
The lime stone valley - an outstanding natural feature
The limestone rocks in the protected area were once sand at the bottom of the sea more than 23 million years ago. These sediments were buried and the pressure turned the sand into limestone. When the whole area of limestone lifted and surfaced, the wind and water shaped and weathered the limestone. Fossils of the ancient sea life are can be found within the limestone – including shells, tiny fish and even whales and dolphin-like creatures.
Environment Canterbury biodiversity officer, Kennedy Lange, said the site has the outstanding natural features and plant community of high-fertility limestone valley floors.
“The ancient limestone cliffs along with the native wetland makes this is a special land environment to the rūnanga and the public. We were excited when QEII staff found a critically endangered wetland plant called marsh arrow grass, which we didn’t expect to find this far south. This is now its most southern known location. The waterway is also home to at-risk freshwater kēkēwai crayfish – so you can see it has really high biodiversity value.”
Safeguarding the natural environment for the future
Landowner, John Hore, said it wasn’t a difficult decision to entrust the land to QEII.
“It’s going to be safeguarded for the future – all the rocky areas are all going to be included in the covenant and the wetlands in the middle. I think it’s great that there will public access as well – so people can come and see this place, including myself once I retire to ‘town’ one day!”
John and Margaret enjoy hosting visitors who come to ride the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail and travel the self-guided Vanished World Geo and Fossil Trail, which showcases 80 kms of North Otago landscape.
“Long, long ago this valley was 100 m under the sea. The geologists can tell by the shells and fossils in the rocks. These range from tiny little diotomes, which are microscopic, to whales, which are 15-20 metres long.”
Kate White, Chair of the Lower Waitaki South Coastal Canterbury Water Zone Committee, said the project is a great example of the collaborative process offered in the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.
“Here we have a farmer who is aware of the huge natural values that he is the caretaker of on his farm. Immediate Steps is allowing him to protect these for future generations. It’s a real win:win situation. “
Mr Hore is an avid conservationist and was the coordinator of planting at the nearby Duntroon Wetland and foundation member of Vanished World. He’s also a trustee of the Nicol’s Blacksmith Historic Trust, which restored an authentic village blacksmith shop.
Protecting and restoring biodiversity through Immediate Steps Funding
Immediate Steps funding from Environment Canterbury is available annually for protection and restoration of biodiversity on private and public land.
The Lower Waitaki South Coastal Canterbury water zone committee is a joint committee of community members, rūnanga, Waimate District Council, Waitaki District Council and Environment Canterbury.
The committee's role is to work with the community to develop actions and tactics to deliver on the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.
