Recognition for native bush revival
Susan Millar has seen plenty of change in the conservation game - she’s watched attitudes change and methods become more sophisticated.
Having helped turn around failing stands of native bush for a quarter of a century, the retired entomologist from Upper Hutt has been honoured with the Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) for services to conservation.
Her inclusion in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours was embarrassing, she said, but it was heartening to see so many others conservationists being recognised for their efforts.
‘‘It’s nice [to be] recognised because there are a great many people that do this work.’’
She was particularly pleased to see two fellow members of her Upper Hutt Forest and Bird branch, Glennis and Allan Sheppard, also awarded the QSM among more than a dozen conservationists on this year’s honours list.
Since 1992, Millar has spent countless hours on conservation projects - many of which involve restoring native bush and nurturing seedlings for planting.
She co-ordinates replanting and weeding efforts in Upper Hutt and around the Wellington region. She has had a hand in helping to restore areas such as Barton’s Bush, Te Marua Bush, Hulls Creek and Domain Bush within Trentham Memorial Park.
When she began getting involved with re-planting projects, volunteers would dig native saplings out of gutters near stands of bush to be replanted elsewhere. Young trees and plants did well in the gutters which provided plenty of shelter, she said.
Plants were now grown at the Upper Hutt Forest & Bird native plant nursery which is coordinated by Millar and raises 6000 native plants each year from eco-sourced seeds.
Eco-sourcing - propagating local native plants for planting within the same region, was important, she said.
‘‘They grow better in the areas they adapted to. For instance, ma¯nuka from up north looks different and grows differently because they are from a different climate.’’
Attitudes towards conservation had also changed. She recalls getting complaints after pest species such as willow were removed but that sort of thing didn’t happen much any more.
There was a lot of satisfaction in seeing areas change and thrive following conservation efforts.
‘‘To grow them and walk under them years later as tall trees leaves you with a feeling of achievement.’’