When they shifted on to a lifestyle block near Alexandra 18 months ago, Roger and Wendy Browne had no idea their property was home to some tiny treasures of major importance.
Discovering their land contained several species of rare and threatened plants was exciting and "a real bonus", the couple said.
Their property is next door to a saline wetland - the Chapman Rd scientific reserve - and the Brownes noticed they had habitat similar to the reserve's.
They contacted the Alexandra Department of Conservation office and a site visit from Doc biodiversity ranger Craig Wilson confirmed the Brownes' property was home to nationally important cresses, grasses and herbs.
"It was exciting when we realised our place had a proliferation of the same species as in the Doc reserve and they were doing very well here," Mr Browne said.
The retired couple have always taken a keen interest in the environment and have been happy to take an active role protecting the special plants growing on their land.
Their efforts have resulted in their being chosen as finalists in the Otago Conservation Awards.
Neither claims expertise in botany.
Mr Browne was formerly a senior lecturer in electronic engineering at Massey University and Mrs Browne was the receptionist in the statistics department at the university.
The climate attracted them to Central Otago and it had always been a popular holiday destination for the couple, who both enjoy tramping.
They moved from a lifestyle block 20km from Palmerston North, where Mr Browne had planted a native forest, to the 13ha Chapman Rd property.
"We intended to build here and put some stock on it and plant some pittosporum trees. Little did we know all these rare and threatened plants were on the Alexandra place."
Fencing now protects part of the saline habitat from stock and they have sprayed and removed brier from the area.
The Brownes remain modest about their efforts.
"We just do what we thought was the best for protecting the native pants after the excitement of finding out they were very rare. It's nice to know we can do something to ensure the survival of endangered species, " Mr Browne said.
