Man Spends 30 Years Turning Degraded Land into Massive Forest – Fools & Dreamers (Full Documentary)

The incredible story of how degraded gorse-infested farmland has been regenerated back into beautiful New Zealand native forest over the course of 30 years.

Fools & Dreamers: Regenerating a Native Forest is a 30-minute documentary about Hinewai Nature Reserve, on New Zealand’s Banks Peninsula, and its kaitiaki/manager of 30 years, botanist Hugh Wilson. When, in 1987, Hugh let the local community know of his plans to allow the introduced ‘weed’ gorse to grow as a nurse canopy to regenerate farmland into native forest, people were not only skeptical but outright angry – the plan was the sort to be expected only of “fools and dreamers”.

Now considered a hero locally and across the country, Hugh oversees 1500 hectares resplendent in native forest, where birds and other wildlife are abundant and 47 known waterfalls are in permanent flow. He has proven without doubt that nature knows best – and that he is no fool.

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** Film credits **
Directed by Jordan Osmond & Antoinette Wilson
Written by Antoinette Wilson, Jordan Osmond, and Nick Tucker
Producer: Antoinette Wilson
Executive producer: Quatro Trust
Cinematography: Jordan Osmond & Jason Hosking
Editing: Jordan Osmond
Sound recording: Anna Veale
Original score: Karl Steven and Ariana Tikao
Sound mixing: James Henderson
Color grade: Mike Kelland

** Subtitles and closed captions **
We love that so many people have translated for our films here on YouTube. If you’d like to be part of that community you can contribute by clicking the "..." below the video and selecting "Add translations" from the dropdown menu. Thanks for your help!

[mizpahfanaa]

Im a single mom from Philippines, working as a Domestic Helper in the Middle East, i bought 16 has abandoned farm in my place, the reason is to protect my village from flashfloods and to prevent gold mining.. 5 years ago i planted 2000 hills of trees, and 10 months ago i planted 500 hills of fruit trees and 1000 hills coffee, ficus and endemic trees.. At the moment im propagating bamboo and nursing pine trees as well as native trees and will be soon to be planted for my next vacation.

[johnlshilling]

I'm definitely inspired. In a very small way, I accomplished something like this, completely by accident. As a child, saving my allowance, I came up with $8. Not much, even in the 60s. But, when I explained my plan to buy "Duck Food" seeds from the back of a Sportsman's magazine, my father matched my funds and I sent the check off... and got my seeds in a few weeks. I took the seeds to a property that my father owned. "Useless" swamp land that was just mud and weeds in most years + $16 worth of seeds, which isn't that much.., but I planted what I could reach... Not much without a boat. Life happened and I grew up, joined the military and completely forgot about the swamp. I happened to return a few decades later and was amazed. Somehow the vegetation spread all over the 10 or so acres, stopped the drainage and evaporation, and the swamp became a lake. 3 to 4 feet deeper. The amount of wildlife had exploded. Someone planted fish, or they came in as eggs stuck to the feet of waterfowl (as some people claim) There were 4 pairs of swans living there. Wood ducks, a rarity in the area. Things I had never seen in my youth. The opposite side of the former swamp was owned by a local radio station. Seeing what I had done, they designated several hundred acres as a private sanctuary. The half dozen homeowners on "my side" shut down any hunting that used to be unrestricted. Soooo.., I know the satisfaction you feel. Just a few tiny steps by an ignorant kid that wanted to photograph ducks... and nature took over. I consider it one of the great things I've done in this life. It is definitely the same as one's love of our mothers.

[santyanavaya]

when this guy said we don’t expect to change the world, just do the right thing in this small corner of the world. We really need more people like this guy!

[jackhandma]

This man is like Santa, but instead of handling gifts to kids, he gave the world one giant present.

[mitrachandrika]

The planet does not need more successful
people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds.
-Dalai Lama

[postholedigger]

About 30 years ago I replaced the grass lawn around my house with trees and shrubs. The neighborhood began as a forest and the contractors who built the subdivision removed most of the forestation and replace it with grass lawns. The few trees that remained in the neighborhood were removed by neighbors who cleared their lots with chainsaws and planted grass lawns. Now my property is surrounded with a tree canopy that does not need to be mowed, watered or fertilized. My house is cool and comfortable on all but three or four days out of a year when the outside temperature is over 95 degrees F. Those are the only days that require my central air conditioner to run. Most of the neighbors who clear cut their lots have to run their air conditioners 24 hours a day for, at least 6 months a year. My electric bill is about 1/4 th of the amount the neighbors pay.

Once the forestation is started it completely takes care of itself and requires virtually no maintenance or intervention. The other lots in the neighborhood over the last 30 years have turned into patches of brown dead grass and patches of dirt that can no longer support plant growth. Without human intervention of watering, mowing, reseeding, applying weed control chemicals, insect control chemicals that kill grubworms, and fertilizers, grass lawns do not survive in our area. Deep root shrubs and trees are able to withstand periods of drought and remain green with almost no human intervention.
david

[Hyrtsi]

I inherited a few hectares of forest from my past father. Nothing much but I decided to preserve that land and forest instead of cutting the trees for money. This video inspired me.

[killianociardubhain]

New Zealand shares a similar forest history with Ireland. Ireland was once 80% forest, eventually human activities brought that down to 1.4%.
It's inspiring to watch this wonderful dreamer help nature to heal. I understand this man deeply, I've dreamt everyday of doing the same here, all I need is for the space to open up for me & I too will silently dedicate my entire life to mother nature.

[JonathanBydendyk]

Genius is often attributed to mathematicians and physicists. This gentleman is a genius in the field of conservation science. What an incredible achievement!

[williamhornabrook]

"We need a more fools and dreamers in the world, I think"

I think too.

[YU_meineLiebe]

Last year, I went down South to meet this amazing gentleman.I have read all his amazing botany books and when I met him, it felt so unreal.He was a living Lorax, and better. He made me crawl, climb, and hike, to show me every beautiful plants in this forest.Hugh, you are an inspiration.May I and more people can walk on your path and grow more prosper and sustainable nature

[karlbyrne]

When you love what you do everyday it's not called work, it's called living.
Hugh has the energy of a teenager and absolutely loves his life and reservation. I love this man and cannot wait to visit

[Alpinefolk]

I visited Hinewai as a botany student in 97 or 98. Amazing to see how far it has come and that Hugh is still there with the same passion for the project. He is a true hero for living to his principles and teaching so many what is possible.

[willdeeny]

That man has kind eyes, a gorgeous laugh, a good heart in his chest, and a clever head on his shoulders. A true inspiration.

[trangluu]

Please make a donation to the reservation, even a portion of one one of your lunch helps them! I made a donation and one day out of nowhere I got a hand written mail from Huge, thanking me in the sweetest way possible.

[constancewalsh]

"Do your best you can do it at any scale you want." Yes! Plants on a balcony, in a window, a yard, a median. Amazing human being. Thank You!

[laveniarraisua]

"Though the problems of the world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarassingly simple ." Bill Mollision

[dewangaw.]

What a remarkable man. He truly has found his purpose in life. 🌿

[richardharris]

I like the fact that he's living and doing the "green" lifestyle while not trashing or denying modern technologies

[lukewaite]

I would love to do this, I am only 23 but it’s one of my dreams to buy a small plot of land and replant forest, when he said at the end you can only do your little corner really touched me and made me cry, what an inspiration