Late December 2010 & early January 2011 gale force winds pounded our region.  There were casualties……the Poplar trees on our neighbour's (Mr. Weichbrodt) property.  Poplars were first brought into New Zealand during the 1830s. They were planted extensively for stabilizing erosion-prone hill country, providing shelter and shade for farm livestock, vista, resolving drainage problems and, in some regions, as a source of supplementary fodder during dry summer months.