Tapawera community breathes new life into Shedwood Bush
By ELOISE MARTYN, Top South Media
Volunteers, community groups and conservation partners are breathing new life into Tapawera’s Shedwood Bush – a pocket of native forest with a walking track and stunning views, right on the town’s doorstep.
The effort is being led by volunteer group Shedwood Bush Betterers, supported by Tapawera Connect Charitable Trust through the Department of Internal Affairs’ Community Led Development programme. It’s a true community collaboration involving Fish & Game, the Motueka Catchment Collective, Tapawera Area School and local residents.
Shedwood Bush Betterers, founded by Mark Soper and Martin Bonny, signed a community guardianship agreement with the Department of Conservation in 2024. Local care of the bush had ceased following the closure of the New Zealand Forest Service in the 1980s.
“Shedwood Bush is right on the doorstep of Tapawera township, so for us it’s about community guardianship,” Mark says. Alongside his Shedwood Bush Betterers hat and gloves, he is also employed as a community connector by Tapawera Connect. “I was inspired to get involved and help the next generation and the wider community take ownership of their environment.”
Part of the group’s aim is to use Tapawera’s natural resources to attract visitors.
“Many people travelling from Christchurch to Kaiteriteri simply pass by Tapawera. As a community, we’re working on giving them a reason to stop and explore,” Mark says.
The group has grown from just two members last year to more than 20 today and has made big progress.
“Together we’ve logged over 350 hours removing Old Man’s Beard, planted around 400 native trees, cleared overgrown tracks, mended fences, and tackled ongoing weed and pest control,” Mark says.
Pest management has become a major focus in recent months, with 40 traps deployed to target possums, rats and stoats.
“Pre-monitoring has already identified high numbers of pest species, mainly possums,” Jacob Lucas says. Jacob is chair of the Motueka Catchment Collective’s pest management team and Nelson/Marlborough field officer for Fish & Game. “Monitoring also showed a healthy population of native birds worth protecting.”
Automatic audio recordings have highlighted high numbers of native birds, and some locals have supported the work through backyard trapping as part of a collaborative pest-control effort. The pest traps placed throughout the bush are now the responsibility of Shedwood Bush Betterers, who will regularly check and report on them.
Shedwood Bush holds deep historical roots. In the 1950s, forestry cadets from the Woodsman Training School in Tadmor cut many of the walking tracks being restored today. The group now hopes to make the area more welcoming for visitors by creating a walking loop track, shelter area and signage highlighting native wildlife and forestry history.
Earlier this year, local children and youth joined volunteers to plant native trees at Shedwood Bush and fruit trees in nearby reserves, forming a green corridor linking the bush with the township’s gardens.
“Tapawera School has been a big part of the work,” Mark says. “The students are propagating native seeds into seedlings for planting, so they’re involved in the whole regenerative process. The project is like a jigsaw – all the parts, groups and efforts need to work together. Everything fits together to protect the bush.”
Mark adds that the Shedwood Bush walk offers one of the best views of Mount Arthur.
“Everyone involved wants to give people a reason to stop in Tapawera and not just pass through – come and experience it for yourself.”
From its forestry beginnings to a modern-day conservation hub, Shedwood Bush is once again a place for learning, connecting and caring for the land.