The Wither Hills Farm Park is an
iconic and highly valued backdrop to Blenheim and the surrounding lower Wairau
Valley. Since the original purchase of land on the Wither Hills in 1944
to address soil conservation issues, a huge amount of effort over many years
has gone into stabilising these hills to protect Blenheim. Today the
Park’s role as a soil conservation reserve is as important as ever. While
this remains its primary management purpose there are other outcomes also
desirable to maximise benefits for the community. These include
restoration of native habitats, recreational opportunities, cultural heritage
protection, landscape protection and invasive species control Effective
fire risk management is also of particular importance, given that it is
critical to achieve soil conservation goals and to protect public safety.
