Tree management win-win

Pukekohe Golf Club

New Zealand

Written by: George Flynn

Between the early 1950s and 1990s, it was commonplace across New Zealand for golf courses to plant swathes of (non-native) pine trees in order to create definition, and in some cases, a source of potential harvest for wood. At Pukekohe, an area of approximately 2.25ha (250 pine trees) were identified for removal. This carefully planned process was embarked upon for two key reasons: 1) to return the course to its intended character and original aesthetic, and 2) to create an opportunity to strategically replant areas with native trees and shrub species in place of the pine trees. The Club engaged professional arborists to carry out the work that took one month to complete. The work is on-going as a large number of stumps still require removal. Some areas (out from the lines of play) will be left with stumps intact and established as naturalised grassland habitats. Going forward, the club is proposing to plant a native grove and base future plantations on its biodiversity plan.

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