About a month ago my GKB and I went for a trip through to the Fruitlands area to buy stone fruit from the orchards. We thought we'd arranged to meet our eldest daughter's partner for lunch at his place but he never arrived. Someone had their wires crossed, not sure who, but never mind. We had drinks and snacks in the car.
We thought while we waited for him we'd carry on down the road towards Gabriel's Gully and have a look at the memorial to Gabriel Read, the first man to find gold in the region and who consequently started the Otago Gold Rush. Unfortunately Mr Read died penniless even as others made their fortunes. It's a very simple monument but befitting. A miners pick and shovel on a stone cairn with a brass plaque.
We were away for about quarter of an hour then headed back to Steve's place and I took a few pictures of the wetlands. I was watched very closely by a neighbour as I went up the drive to the house to a higher vantage point. The house is up on a rise and overlooks the wetlands. They're not open to the public yet so I didnt want to actually venture further on to the property, especially as I was being watched :)
Steve (daughter Jacqui's partner) has developed the wetlands over the past 20 years including building the structures on it, (bridges, tracks, waterwheels, ponds etc). Every now and then he has school groups come in and they help with the planting out of natives plants and learn a little about conservation - plants, animal life and such. I think they all enjoy that.
I know I enjoy walking around there but haven't been for a while and it's been developed further since I was there. I'm looking forward to having another look around sometime.
Steve never did turn up so after half an hour or so we went on our merry way and left Bellview Wetlands for another day.
Bellview? Because you have a good view of the church bell from the property.
That's it from me for now.
Enjoy your week and the upcoming weekend.
Diana
It looks like a beautiful place and a good visit even though you didn't get to see Steve. I like the memorial.
ReplyDeleteDid you ever find out why he didn't show up?
ReplyDeleteWe haven't seen him since and Jacqui forgets to ask, so we just imagine he was caught up in his work and totally forgot. He works on the land.
DeleteSteve has done quite a lot of work there on making the wetlands! I enjoyed so much reading about this...as well as learning about Gabriel Read.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lovely place to visit! Thank you for sharing it with us. I like the story of the miner too. Glad he at least has a monument/plaque telling about what he did. What is "stone fruit"? I've never heard of that before. Is it like a peach or a plum?
ReplyDeleteStone fruit is the collective name we use for plums, apricots, peaches and other fruit that have a 'stone' in them. So much nicer if you can get them straight from the orchards.
ReplyDeleteWetlands are important, we have alot here but the govt is trying to get rid of them sadly. Looks like a lovely place to have lunch.
ReplyDeleteIt looks a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your photographs.
All the best Jan