Let Nature Lead: Dr Hugh Wilson on Restoring Hinewai Reserve

In this episode of Nature Conversations, I sit down in person with renowned botanist Dr Hugh Wilson, the driving force behind Hinewai Reserve, a groundbreaking native forest regeneration project in New Zealand. For over 40 years, Hugh has championed a philosophy of minimal intervention, allowing nature to do the heavy lifting in ecological restoration. In our conversation, Hugh shares candid insights into the challenges, successes, and surprises of restoring 1600 hectares of former farmland. From battling bureaucracy to witnessing the return of rare species, Hugh’s story is one of perseverance, inspiration, and a deep trust in nature’s ability to heal itself.

Summary

Hugh has spent decades dedicated to ecological restoration, proving that nature itself is the most powerful force for forest restoration. At Hinewai Reserve, he has embraced a minimal interference approach, using gorse—a plant often considered a pest—as a natural nurse crop to protect young native seedlings. This method has successfully restored over 1600 hectares of native forest without the need for extensive tree planting.

However, Hugh’s journey has not been without challenges. He faced significant resistance from authorities who enforced strict noxious plant regulations, requiring a long battle to prove that gorse was actually aiding regeneration rather than hindering it. Pest control has been another ongoing struggle. While Hinewai has finally eradicated feral goats, the team is now tackling the impact of browsing deer, aiming for their complete removal to protect the young forest. A small handful of exotic weeds have been a concern, but careful management has helped prevent them from overwhelming native species.

Despite these obstacles, the project has been a resounding success. The most rewarding outcome for Hugh has been witnessing the remarkable natural regeneration of native forest cover. Thousands of visitors now explore Hinewai, providing enthusiastic feedback and drawing inspiration from the reserve’s transformation. Scientists and conservationists frequently visit to study the recovering ecosystem, and the return of rare plants and breeding native falcons highlights the project’s ecological significance.

Hugh’s core message is one of encouragement: let nature lead the way. He believes that for every tree humans plant, nature establishes a million more. While challenges like bureaucracy and moments of discouragement are inevitable, he urges others to trust in the resilience of natural systems. Every day at Hinewai brings new highlights, from unexpected plant reappearances to the joy of seeing his workers thrive in a deeply meaningful project. His work stands as a testament to what can be achieved when we step back and allow nature to restore itself.

And a huge thanks to Alison Evans for making this episode possible,  travelling with me to meet Hugh at Hinewai! The bird song featured in the episode is a korimako/bellbird recorded in a māhoe tree while walking down the track to meet Hugh on the day of the interview.

Hope you enjoy this episode!

 

Links mentioned in the podcast:

The official website of Hinewai Reserve: https://www.hinewai.org.nz 

 

About the podcast:

Hi! I’m Dr Adam Forbes. I am an Ecologist who specialises in the restoration of forest ecosystems. The Nature Conversations Podcast isn’t about me, however, the purpose of the podcast is to capture knowledge and insights from remarkable people and profile important issues for ecology and nature conversation.

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Key words:

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