With a caged possum in one hand, Port Hills Park Ranger Di Carter holds a cellphone in the other.

The possum represents the problems with pests in the wilds of the Port Hills faced by City Council rangers and the phone is the contact that keeps the rangers in touch over their immense domain.

Eight rangers look after the Port Hills Park and they belong to the Regional Parks Team that is part of the Parks and Waterways Unit.

Their area of concern stretches from near Godley Head in the east to Gebbies Pass in the south.

For the past year much of Di Carter’s work, along with constant routine maintenance, has been the revegetation of the Port Hills, especially those parts that were ravaged in the storm of October 2000.

Thousands of trees were lost, mostly pines, and in the past year more than 22,000 native trees have been planted to fill the gaps.

Most of the trees have been planted in about five areas, including Lower Bowenvale Valley, Dyers Pass Road and Bush Head.

As well, another 5000 natives have gone in, with the public helping to plant 3000 of them and the staff of MacPac Wilderness Equipment Ltd planting 2000 as part of the Carbon Credit Scheme.

Broadly, the work of rangers is to look after the land and look after the people who visit the sites. Many of the areas have high recreational uses.

Great attention is given to tracks so that the parks are accessible.Track and facilities maintenance has high priority, along with restoration of the land and weed and pest control.

Education is another important function for the rangers. Funds from the Ministry of Education enable the Council to employ 1.5 teachers to work with rangers to instruct people how to use the parks, sustainability, and how to appreciate the value of the natural biodiversity and uniqueness of the city’s wild parks.

Di Carter sees her job as essentially ensuring that the natural vegetation systems of the Port Hills are maintained along with the recreational needs of the public.

“We must maintain and enhance the conservation values of the hills for future generations,” she says.

The Council has 25 rangers who work in Christchurch’s “wild” parks, such as Port Hills, along the eastern coastline, the Bottle Lake Forest Park,Travis Wetland, the Groynes, Spencer Park and Halswell Quarry Park.

All these areas have somewhat different uses. For instance, the Groynes is mostly a picnic area while the Bottle Lake Forest Park is used by mountain bikers, dog owners and horse riders.