From gorse-infested pasture to lush native bush: documentary tells the story of Hinewai Reserve

Thursday, 27 June 2019

A documentary on Hugh Wilson and Hinewai Reserve premieres in Christchurch on Friday, and will be available on YouTube from July 28.

A new documentary celebrates Hinewai Reserve's transformation from scrubby paddock to native bush under the stewardship of Canterbury botanist Hugh Wilson.

Since 1987, the Banks Peninsula property has naturally reverted from gorse-covered pasture to native forest, expanding to 1250 hectares as neighbouring properties became available.

Called Fools and Dreamers, the documentary was made by Happen Films, made up of filmmaking duo Jordan Osmond and Antoinette Wilson (who is not related to Hugh). It premieres on Friday in Sumner, Christchurch.

Hugh Wilson, who has dedicated his life to restoring native forest in Hinewai Reserve, is the subject of documentary Fools and Dreamers.

Osmond said they were drawn to telling Hinewai's story because they loved that nature had been allowed to lead the regeneration, rather than imposing human ideas and control onto it.

**READ MORE:

Antoinette Wilson, left, and Jordan Osmond talk to Hugh Wilson, centre, during filming for the documentary.

* Hinewai Reserve recovers

* From wildlife to street life: Local hero captured in new Christchurch street art**

There are now 47 known waterfalls in flow at Hinewai now, though Hugh Wilson thinks there may be more tucked away in corners of the reserve.

He said their films focused on people taking the 'big, scary issues' of climate change, biodiversity loss and ecological collapse into their own hands and saying 'what can I do to create something better?'

Antoinette Wilson said Hugh Wilson was a wonderful and inspiring figure who had made Hinewai Reserve his entire life.

Hugh Wilson says he was dubious about being involved at first because 'we don't thrive on huge publicity out here, we just get on with it'.

'We just found that commitment to his ethics a really beautiful thing,' she said.

Hugh Wilson travelled almost exclusively by bike for the past 30 years, including regular seven hour rides into Christchurch for supplies, because he saw the problems with fossil fuels early on.

Hinewai stops just short of the ocean, though it is hoped that one day the land in between will be sold to the trust so it can reach right down to the sea.

Hugh said he was dubious about being involved at first because 'we don't thrive on huge publicity out here, we just get on with it'.

Hinewai was topical because there was so much talk about growing forestry for carbon sequestration, he said. He hoped the film would show natural regeneration in marginal hill country could be the answer.

The film told the Hinewai story well but had a bit much of himself 'chattering on', Wilson said. He wanted to point out Hinewai was the work of a lot of people involved, including trust founder Maurice White who bought the original land.

The documentary is the product of a year's work, including a 10-day stint at the reserve.

The film-makers hoped the documentary got people excited about forest regeneration, and helped them see how Hinewai's success could be replicated in other parts of the world.

It was funded by an unnamed individual through the Quatro Trust, a change from Happen Film's largely self-funded past works. It allowed them to work with others including a second camera and composer – luxuries they normally did not have access to.

Screenings are being held at cinemas in Christchurch, Akaroa, Picton, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, Whanganui, and Carterton, before the film is released online for free on July 28.

More information: foolsanddreamers.com.