Garry River Farm
Our Spotlight MADE NORTH CANTERBURY Member
When Birch Hill Station Founder E.B Milton planted his stunning specimen trees at the Birch Hill homestead in the early 1900’s, little did he know it would bring generations of joy to visiting families on the neighbouring farms.
Amongst the trees he imported from Europe was a Black Siberian Cherry tree, whose pits require weeks of freezing temperature to be able to germinate come spring. The riverbed and surrounding gullies at Garry River obliged during the harsh depths of winter, and where the sun failed to peek through, this beautiful but invasive species flourished.
Later in the century the Bevan family planted more cherry species at Wooded Gully and generously allowed visits by families on their Christmas holidays to camp and pick till the trees were bare.
Over the recent years that Capt. and Mrs GD Wilson have owned Garry River Farm, I (Their Son) have been fortunate to hear, from chance meetings and purposeful visitors, about the childhood joy, remembered by many, of simply coming and picking the cherries with their families.
The Siberian cherry are not the huge commercial type you see in supermarkets, but a small, dark, sweet fruit which lends itself to use in brandy,schnapps and beer making (Award winning Derelict Brewing, Two Thumb Brewing and Brew Moon to name a few local brews). Also delicious for baking and puddings. They are naturally high in melatonin and provide relief from gout too. You will often find locals making medicinal tonics to ease a sore throat or assist in getting to sleep.
There are an estimated 14,000 wildling trees on the privately owned Wooded Gully and Garry River farms, as well as the public DOC camp grounds, ensuring there will be years of foraging fun for holiday pickers in the future.
Written by
Nigel Wilson
