Hidden Valley Project:

 Hidden Valley...a restoration project

A local group of citizens have cobble together to by a parcel of land next to the covenanted land in the new Te Ara Pataka reserve on Banks Peninsula. Called Hidden Valley it is a 72 hectare block between Mt Evans and Purau and the trustees hope to re forest the area with native bush. 

The view from the bottom of Hidden Valley over Purau Bay and Lyttelton Harbour.

With an eye to returning its ecology to what it once was a group of 20 citizens has brought the block between the Purau settlement and Mt Evans naming it Hidden Valley. After jointly committing almost $475 000 for the purchase the are now committing their time and sweet to restoring the natural habitat of the land. 

Paul and Andrea Dahl say the Hidden Valley name is likely to be temporary.

The area has native forest on it which consist of Matai, Kanuka, Totara and Lancewood as well as a thick understory of native plants. Pest control is being carried out on the land to ensure it is a safe place for native birds and small inveritabrates to live. 

Hidden Valley has a long human history, including hunting by Māori. Moa ovens have been found in the valley.

Read the full article here:

Recloaking a hourside treasure from a ancient remanant