Outdoors: A little vision

By COLIN MOORE

Small farms need small animals. That's the philosophy of Christchurch hobby farmer Mary MacLachlan who with husband Steve runs a farm in miniature that is becoming a popular tourist attraction on the outskirts of the Canterbury capital.

The MacLachlans moved to Barnscote, their 2.8ha spread at West Melton five years ago, converted a barn into a modern home, and began to turn their smallholding into a whimsical rural venture.

Farming is in Mary's blood. She was raised on a sheep and arable farm at Methven in the heart of the Canterbury Plains. Animals are her passion.

So while Steve follows an airline career, Mary has developed Barnscote as a place where city people and travellers from overseas can get some idea of New Zealand's rural heritage.

Barnscote may be small but it is neither circus nor novelty; it is a working farm where every animal and plant has to pay its way, one way or another. Mary has an extensive herb and vegetable garden, makes traditional preserves and has peppered the property with heirlooms and mementoes.

The holding is also a haven for a Noah's Ark collection of animals, from alpacas to ostriches. But Mary has begun to specialise in breeding miniature horses and has recently imported the first miniature goats into New Zealand, a billy and five nannies from Australia. Her existing boer goat herd will be phased out.

"Miniature goats are ideal for smallholdings," she says. "Less animal means less food."

To feed their many animals the MacLachlans grow tree lucerne as hedgerows. "Our farm is too small to grow hay but tree lucerne provides all our winter feed."

As we wander around the holding Mary fields a steady stream of calls from buyers wanting pet goats. The miniature farm is also getting a steady stream of visitors, from groups of children to coach-loads of elderly people anxious to see some old farm implements - there is no shortage of them at Barnscote.

West Melton is on Highway 73, the main road to the West Coast, and about 15 minutes from Christchurch Airport. It has long been a region known for farming and racehorse breeding but is now known for its vineyards and speciality farms and gardens.

The MacLachlans and six other like-minded souls in the district have joined forces to market their wares just 25 minutes from central Christchurch. It makes an interesting outdoors alternative on a day when bad weather may close the Canterbury skifields.

The partners in the venture are as varied as the range of animals at Barnscote. A Cracker of a Nut is a 6.8ha organic walnut orchid where Jenny and Malcolm Lawrence make a range of walnut products from paste to walnut chutney.

At the Kitchen Garden, Diane Leighton grows gourmet vegetables and garnishes for restaurants, including Chinese artichokes, fennel bulbs, celeriac, salsify, scorzonera and white alpine strawberries.

At Southern Alpacas, Linda Blake and Nic Cooper welcome farm visits where people can get a hands-on feel of the alpacas' soft fibre and feed the curious creatures.

Melton Park is an equestrian centre and homestay purpose-built for horse lovers. The farm offers treks and rides in a horse-drawn wagon. Dinner, bed and breakfast includes a traditional Canterbury lamb roast.

Langdale Wine Estate has a restaurant and wine-tasting cellar. At Lavender Downs Virginia McNaughton and Dennis Mathews have a range of lavender products for sale as well as McNaughton's books on lavender.

Where: West Melton, Gateway to the Alps, Highway 73, Canterbury.

Visits to the seven properties are generally by arrangement, with prices around $5 a person and $30 for groups.

For further information contact the Selwyn District Council, phone (03) 324 8080, and information centres in Leeston, Lincoln, Rollerston and Darfield.

* colinmoore@xtra.co.nz