A pair of Queenstown neighbours aiming to transform the perception of invasive wilding pine trees, from pest to commodity, say they have been overwhelmed by the demand for their product.
Mathurin Molgat and Michael Sly have spent the last three years refining a range of essential oils extracted from Queenstown’s wilding pine – the name given to pine trees that spring up uninvited.
The pair formed Wilding and Co in April 2013 with another friend Dave Turnbull in what Molgat says is, “a professional formulation of our vision and ideas”.
The ex-professional skier and environmental film-maker says spraying wilding pines with herbicides doesn’t sit well with his environmental ethics.
By Amelia Reynolds – 11:00 AM Tuesday Oct 7, 2014