Marlborough Forest and Bird Talk - Alpine Floral Gems

Will and Rose Parsons say the inspiration to form their Blenheim-based eco-tourism company comes from their desire to share the wildlife and environments they love. Conservation extends to all parts of their lives.

From the development of a wetland on their lower Wairau property - which is now predator trapped and converted to a Queen Elizabeth 2Trust, to working with Marlborough District Council's riparian planting programme to stabilise earthquake-affected river banks. An area now being established in native trees with the assistance of their partner Opawa Wines.

Will says he enjoys mentoring local college students showing them the value of rivers and wetlands in our environment.

The eco-tours the Parsons run include local visits to Rainbow, Molesworth and Black Birch, to areas further afield in the Canterbury mountains, Porters and Arthurs Pass. Tours to d'Urville Island have special affinity for Rose as she grew up going to school at French Pass and the couple make donations to support stoat eradication on d'Urville Island.

Will explains that while each area has alpine gems unique to the season and local ecology, they still get surprises like the abundance of the flowering prickly Spaniard and mistletoe seen this year at Lake Ohau.

Alpine flora guide Rebecca Bowater accompanies these trips which means they benefit from her extensive botanical knowledge to identify the hundreds of alpine species they might come across. Rebecca, also well known for her photographic contribution to nature, helps visitors with getting the best out of macro photography. Will regularly posts on Facebook his own photography of topics from local birdlife to alpine flowers and sunsets!

Will and Rose Parsons are presenting 'Alpine Floral Gems' at Forest & Bird's monthly talk, commencing at 7:30pm on July 18 in Blenheim School Hall. They will be talking about finding and photographing some of the special and spectacular plants in our alpine areas. Talks are open to the public where more details on Driftwood Eco-Tours will be available.

Gold coin donation appreciated.