23 April 2012
When Dennis Larsen bought his Lawrence farm in 1980, there were no trees - just "a bit of scrub". More than 30 years later, the 611 ha sheep and beef property boasts 92 ha of forestry. Mr Larsen's efforts were recognised this month during the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association's annual conference, when he was presented with the Husqvarna South Island Farm Forester of the Year award.Originally from north Taranaki, he attributed his love of trees to his father, whom he said was "trees through and through". There were a lot of trees in that region and, when he moved south, he could not get over how barren it was.
He got involved with the Otago Catchment Board and then the South Otago branch of the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association, along with a farm forestry discussion group. That encouraged him and his wife Margaret to "keep going and keep planting".
Radiata pine was the main species planted on the farm but there was also Douglas-fir, macrocarpa, eucalyptus, alders and larch - "bits and pieces all around".
Erosion control was the main reason initially for planting, then to provide shade in the summer. Then there were the aesthetic benefits and the plantings had also "brought the birdlife back" which was "a big plus", he said.
Roger and Daphne Redington, from Upper Hutt, won the Husqvarna North Island farm forester of the year award.
The Landcare Trust award was won by Rural Women Southland, while Chris Sime, from Outram, won the Neil Barr Award and Barry Gray, from Owaka, won the Peter Smaill Award.
By Sally Rae, Otago Daily Times, © Allied Press Limited 2007. To read the full story, click here.