Congratulations to David and Geraldine and Don and Margaret Bayly who were presented with three Balance Farm Environment Awards at an Awards Evening in April: Auckland BFEA People in Agriculture; Massey University Innovation; Predator Free Farm.
The combined Bayly family businesses in Kaukapakapa include a nursery, a plant and coffee shop, a sculpture garden, covenanted bush and beef cattle farming.
Don and Margaret have owned the 122ha farm, originally bought by Don’s father in 1953, since 1961. They have fenced off and assisted the regeneration and revegetation of most of the riparian margins and planted the steep hillsides. The job of maintaining the traps and recording all pests caught has now been passed on to their granddaughter Bianca.
Under the name Kaipara Coast Plant Centre and Sculpture Gardens, the horticulture and tourism businesses occupy 12ha and are owned by David and Geraldine. The nursery grows a range of plants and while it specialises in catering to properties in the rural landscape it is visited regularly by people from wider Auckland. David has planted out and supports the natural regeneration of a large wetland area, which is used to teach school groups about water quality.
Geraldine has a landscape architecture business specialising in Landscape and Visual Effects Assessments, including design and land management. The business provides a design service for rural landowners.
Judges’ comments praised the Baylys for:
! The extensive and financially prudent sculpture trail which showcases art from local and international artists nestled through a corridor of natural habitat
! Into the third generation of pest trapping and recording of wildlife sightings, including several rare species
! Exceptional diverse involvement with local business, school, community and children’s programmes
! The strong focus on staff training and multi skilling
Ray and Pam Hollis, who own a visionary farm parkat Te Hana, and Andrew and Liisa Hamilton, who own dairy farms at Awhitu, South Auckland, were also award winners.
The Supreme Award winners were Stephen and Clare and Bruce and Felicity Dill, who run sheep and beef on their steep 488ha farm at Kaipara Flats.
Congratulations to the Bayly family
