Refuge Ecology is owned and operated by Antony Johnson and was set up in May 2018.
Refuge Ecology is at the moment very much a family business. Staff consist of a husband and wife team complimented by two adult aged sons. Collectively we bring a wide range of skills and experience to the business, Skills include; ecological training, tree felling, field work, education, consultancy, track maintenance and construction. Years of practical field experience, lessons learned from working collaboratively with others and tertiary training contribute to what we can offer.
Refuge Ecology is at the moment very much a family business. Staff consist of a husband and wife team complimented by two adult aged sons. Collectively we bring a wide range of skills and experience to the business, Skills include; ecological training, tree felling, field work, education, consultancy, track maintenance and construction. Years of practical field experience, lessons learned from working collaboratively with others and tertiary training contribute to what we can offer.
Antony Johnson
On leaving school I spent several years in the forestry industry. By the late 1980's I had graduated from Lincoln College with a Parks and Recreation Management Diploma. Summers were spent doing seasonal work for the Department of Conservation on the West Coast cutting tracks, maintaining swing bridges and carrying out hut refurbishment.
By the mid 1990's I had returned to Lincoln University and completed papers in Applied Ecology and had purchased our property at Montgomerys Rd.
By the new millennium I had a Bachelor in Teaching and Learning and was teaching at Little River Primary School. Family life saw us move back into Christchurch where I continued teaching until 2013.
Refuge Ecology is a result of the desire to develop a business that utilized the skills and training I had accumulated over the years and that sits well with my values.
On leaving school I spent several years in the forestry industry. By the late 1980's I had graduated from Lincoln College with a Parks and Recreation Management Diploma. Summers were spent doing seasonal work for the Department of Conservation on the West Coast cutting tracks, maintaining swing bridges and carrying out hut refurbishment.
By the mid 1990's I had returned to Lincoln University and completed papers in Applied Ecology and had purchased our property at Montgomerys Rd.
By the new millennium I had a Bachelor in Teaching and Learning and was teaching at Little River Primary School. Family life saw us move back into Christchurch where I continued teaching until 2013.
Refuge Ecology is a result of the desire to develop a business that utilized the skills and training I had accumulated over the years and that sits well with my values.
FranFran Johnson
Fran brings a wide range of valuable skills to the business. She is also a Parks and Recreation Graduate, She has worked with the Department of Conservation at Twizel and the Chathams with endangered bird species. Fran currently works part time at Isaacs Wildlife Trust and volunteers her time at Willowbank, Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust and the Department of Conservation. She also brings weed control, plant establishment and wilding pine control work experience to the business.
Fran brings a wide range of valuable skills to the business. She is also a Parks and Recreation Graduate, She has worked with the Department of Conservation at Twizel and the Chathams with endangered bird species. Fran currently works part time at Isaacs Wildlife Trust and volunteers her time at Willowbank, Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust and the Department of Conservation. She also brings weed control, plant establishment and wilding pine control work experience to the business.
Jade and Lachlan Johnson
Refuge Ecology is fortunate that these two young men are in a position to contribute to the business. They both have an interest in physical fitness and provide much of the muscle to this operation. They have proven themselves to be reliable hardworking employees. They have grown up with a familiarity with forest regeneration and all the activities involved with managing our property. This has made it an easy transition to working for the business. Both have worked in other industries for the last few years. |
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Montgomerys Rd - Our Place of Refuge
In 1995 my wife Fran and I bought a 25 hectare block of land on Montgomerys Road Little River. Previous voluntary work at Hinewai influenced our wish to enable the property to passively regenerate. Despite pressure to clear gorse from the Banks Peninsula District Council, the property has been given the opportunity to begin the process of reverting to something near its original state. Our tertiary training and exposure to books such as 'Immigrant Killers' and 'Groves of Life' heavily influenced our attitude towards this property. Every action is governed by the desire to benefit the land and its native inhabitants.
New pedestrian tracks have been created to provide access to special features of the property, enable pest control and facilitate guided public access. Vehicle tracks have been maintained or cleared of gorse for the same reason. Gorse has been cleared from boundaries where necessary. Native trees were planted along cleared fence lines. Wilding trees have been removed and animal pests trapped.
In 2012 our objectives for the property were legally formalised with twenty hectares of our property becoming part of a 100 hectare multi owner Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust Covenant. The Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust staff and their supporters invested heavily to make this Covenant happen, for which we are very grateful.
Despite years of regeneration with numerous plant species becoming more abundant it became clear that not all fauna were recovering.
As a consequence our trapping program has become more intensive with approximately 100 kill traps in use targeting mice,rats,stoats,cats,and hedgehogs. Forty leg hold traps are used to monitor and control possum numbers. Any wasp nests are controlled on an 'as need' basis.
We have learnt a great deal from our years of managing this property, and are indebted to those who have supported us. Since intensifying our trapping program small bird species have become more abundant, and native lizards and invertebrates encountered more frequently. The dawn chorus in spring is reward enough for our efforts.
2018 is the second year that our property is included in the Banks Peninsula walking festival, providing an opportunity for the public to gain access to four of the five covenant properties.
New pedestrian tracks have been created to provide access to special features of the property, enable pest control and facilitate guided public access. Vehicle tracks have been maintained or cleared of gorse for the same reason. Gorse has been cleared from boundaries where necessary. Native trees were planted along cleared fence lines. Wilding trees have been removed and animal pests trapped.
In 2012 our objectives for the property were legally formalised with twenty hectares of our property becoming part of a 100 hectare multi owner Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust Covenant. The Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust staff and their supporters invested heavily to make this Covenant happen, for which we are very grateful.
Despite years of regeneration with numerous plant species becoming more abundant it became clear that not all fauna were recovering.
As a consequence our trapping program has become more intensive with approximately 100 kill traps in use targeting mice,rats,stoats,cats,and hedgehogs. Forty leg hold traps are used to monitor and control possum numbers. Any wasp nests are controlled on an 'as need' basis.
We have learnt a great deal from our years of managing this property, and are indebted to those who have supported us. Since intensifying our trapping program small bird species have become more abundant, and native lizards and invertebrates encountered more frequently. The dawn chorus in spring is reward enough for our efforts.
2018 is the second year that our property is included in the Banks Peninsula walking festival, providing an opportunity for the public to gain access to four of the five covenant properties.
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