Highfield’s Guardian - Peter Caccia-Birch
Photo Amy Hamblett
A cherished figure in the Snells Beach and Algies Bay communities, Peter Caccia-Birch is a man whose decades of volunteer work and commitment to the natural environment has left an enduring mark on the region.
As the volunteer manager of Highfield Garden Reserve, Peter has devoted countless hours to preserving and enhancing this special place. Thanks to
his tireless efforts, the reserve today is a beloved sanctuary for locals and visitors alike, offering serene gardens, a community orchard, scenic trails, and the joy of interacting with the resident donkeys.
Highfield Garden Reserve owes its origins to Alison Roberts and her husband Ted, who generously gifted the land to the people of New Zealand in the 1990s, intending it to be enjoyed by the community and remain home to their special breed of donkeys. But it was Peter who transformed the reserve into the vibrant and inviting space it is today. Since he and his wife Val moved to Snells Beach 30 years ago, Peter, now 85, has dedicated himself to the reserve, working alongside volunteers to maintain its beauty and accessibility.
Under Peter’s guidance, Highfield has flourished as a community hub, attracting over 10,000 visitors a year. Many come for the family-friendly events co-sponsored with the Council - which feature donkey rides, games, and barbecues - others for the beautiful scenery and to meet the infamous donkeys. A former sheep and beef farmer, Peter has lovingly tended the reserve’s seven donkeys every day, rain or shine. He coordinates a team of volunteers who help with grooming every Tuesday and liaises with vets when required, including with the unexpected loss of beloved foal Titan earlier this year.
Peter has also brought his passion for the environment and expertise to the reserve’s landscape, leading the ongoing restoration of native groves over Highfield’s 20 acres. Peter knows every native tree, from its age to whether it was planted or self-seeded. Volunteers, with direction from Peter, gather weekly to plant, prune, and share stories over a morning’s work. He even supervises people completing Community Service hours, who help maintain the grounds under his patient guidance.
Peter’s contributions to the community extend beyond Highfield. In 2009, he and volunteers from the Goodall-Te Whau Committee undertook the restoration of land between Goodall Reserve and Dawsons Landing - adding another important amenity to the community and helping restore its ecosystem. Public service and a love of nature runs in the family: Peter’s father, Tom Birch, was one of the founders of the New Zealand Forest Service, while his maternal grandfather was Colonel Guy Powles and his uncle the distinguished Sir Guy Powles.
Recognised with numerous awards, including the Queen’s Service Medal in 2021 and a recent documentary about him made by students from Auckland University of Technology, Peter’s selfless contributions are deeply appreciated by those whose lives he’s touched. Jenny van der Mespel, granddaughter of Alison Roberts, described him as “a kind, considerate, thoughtful, concerned, involved, committed man...truly a blessing to us all.” She also noted, “Highfield Garden Reserve and the Highfield Donkeys would not be the local treasures that they are if not for Peter.”
Thanks to Peter and his team of dedicated volunteers, the local community and visitors can feed a family of donkeys, harvest from the community orchard, explore the reserve of native trees, or meander with their family and delight in the panorama from Tawharanui Peninsula to Kawau Island.