The lodge Russell (pictured above) manages sits in the middle of the popular 84km-long Timber Trail Great Ride, one of 23 Ngā Haerenga Great Rides, which journeys deep into the ancient heart of the 78,000 hectare Pureora Forest Park in the central North Island.  

Russell's passion for nature and the trails extends beyond the lodge. He spends many voluntary hours helping to enhance the natural environment – and that involves monitoring and setting traps in the area. 

The forest is home to a number of threatened bird species including kokako, whio (blue duck), kākā, kakariki, kārearea (native falcon) and North Island robin.  

It is also home to introduced pests, including possums, mustalids, rats and cats which all prey on native birds and are a threat to their survival.  

“Taking responsibility for biodiversity and kaitiakitanga in the forest is important to us. It’s also important to our visitors who come here for the amazing riding, forest and bird life,” says Russell. 

Timber Trail Lodge has a sustainability plan that aligns with the Tourism Sustainability Commitment, which aims to see every New Zealand tourism business work towards 12 business commitments. 

“Environment is one of the four key pillars in the commitment, and predator control is a large part of our plan.” 

The lodge has invested in 45 traps over the years. Volunteers like Russell and Mike Boulton (pictured below setting a trap), manage the traps.

“There is a substantial amount of committed volunteer work that goes into pest control around the rohe. Our green spaces wouldn't have native bird song without it,” says Russell.   

The pest control programme uses DOC200 predator control traps  which target stoats, weasels, and rats. All are double-set, which means two traps per trap box. They are instant-kill using no poison.  

“We would catch more than 100 rats each year, and a handful of stoats,” says Russell. 

“We hope this gives the native birds and bats in the area the protection they need to thrive.”  

It's not uncommon for Russell to head out on a quad bike near the Timber Trail’s Maramataha Bridge to monitor and set traps to help protect the native blue duck. 

The volunteers' efforts are paying off. There are tui, wood pigeons and kākā in abundance. 

“This year alone we’ve had a few fledgling falcons hatch around the lodge and they make a lot of noise in the mornings. I'm pretty sure I heard a kōkako near the lodge just recently.” 

Russell is now working alongside the Department of Conservation to pull together trapping workshops for those living in the area keen to hear future plans and the thoughts of trapping experts on how to maximise their latest efforts. 

A keen cyclist himself who loves to get out in nature, Russell has been involved in predator trapping in the community for many years. 

He shifted from New Plymouth to Cambridge almost two years ago. In New Plymouth he was involved in predator trapping, and most recently he's been working with Waikato’s Te Awa Trail manager and former Olympic cyclist Sarah Ulmer on her area. 

"We were getting reports of rat and stoat sightings from people on the trail, so we've established some traps on it. No doubt we will add to this trapping line over time.” 

Trapping is one of the best tools we have to preserve our biodiversity, says Russell.

"It's very time intensive and relies heavily on volunteers’ contributions all around the rohe.

"If the other volunteers are anything like me, they like getting out in the forest and making a difference.” 

* Across the Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand network, the most recent evaluation report shows almost a quarter of a million native trees, flaxes and shrubs or rushes have been planted, more than 900km of waterways have been fenced, and more than 3000 traps laid for pests.

And those numbers are growing year on year as trail managers, staff and volunteers work to protect and enhance the natural environment in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

See the best of New Zealand by bike.  Get off the beaten track and ride the Timber Trail Great Ride.