Free of campers, reserve rebounds
It’s almost 10 months since camping was banned at Edward Baigent Memorial Scenic Reserve on the outskirts of Wakefield. Since then, the Wakefield Bush Restoration Society and members of the wider community have been working to restore the site to its pre-camping state.
Much of that labour has been by hand, such as the removal of gravel that marked parking areas for the vehicles of the many freedom campers who used the reserve – more than 120 people some nights.
‘‘[The gravel] was removed by hand because of the encroachment by tree roots,’’ said restoration society member Evie-Joy South.
Trees are a special feature of the reserve, which has some of the largest podocarps in the area, notably kahikatea, to¯tara and mataı¯. Some of the trees are believed to be 200 to 300 years old.
The site was gifted in 1951 to the people of Waimea by grandchildren of settler Edward Baigent. It was a popular spot for barbecues, picnics and family outings.
However, freedom campers filled the site in recent years. Members of the Wakefield community were horrified by the behaviour of some campers, which included defecating in the bush and washing their dishes, clothes or nude bodies in the creek that runs through the reserve.
A replanted area on the edge of the bush was flattened by tents, and some local residents reported feeling intimidated by the number of campers. The Wakefield chief fire officer also raised concern about the fire risk at the attimes crowded site.
Matters came to a head in June 2017, when Tasman District Council released for public consultation its draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2017. It proposed Edward Baigent reserve as one of six areas where freedom camping would be permitted.
More than 100 of 383 submissions on that draft bylaw mentioned the reserve, with the vast majority either wanting camping banned or restricted to self-contained vehicles.
One of the submissions came from descendants of Edward Baigent. His great-granddaughter, Heather Baigent, said the family was saddened and angry at the ‘‘desecration’’ of the reserve by freedom campers and wanted the practice prohibited at the site.
Following a hearing, the draft bylaw was changed to prohibit camping in the reserve. The new bylaw was adopted on December 14 and notified on December 16, and the gate was locked on December 18.
South said a promise was made to the Baigent family to return the reserve to its natural state. ‘‘Almost a year on, and our society and community have virtually completed [that promise].’’
As well as the removal of gravel from the parking areas, bollards have been taken away and 300 native plants put in as understorey vegetation.
Topsoil has been laid over areas where gravel was removed, and fertiliser applied in preparation this week for the sowing of grass seed.
Bush restoration society president Doug South said bird life had returned to the reserve, and people had returned to picnic at the site and walk through the bush.
‘‘They’re happy as Larry noone’s [freedom campers] in here,’’ he said.
The Souths said many people had contributed to the work with either materials and/or labour, including Higgins Heritage Park manager Allan Palmer and Doug Donaldson, who were both working at the site with the Souths this week.