General
Little Valley is a small (5 acre or 2 hectare) semi rural property at Tokoiti, near Milton, in South Otago, New Zealand.
The land is flat or gently sloping with one large gully that gives the property its name. There is a house, garage/workshop and two barns. The remainder of the land is divided into six paddocks and is well planted with trees.
Tokoiti
Tokoiti (Toe-Koe-Ee-Tee) is a Maori name that means 'few people'. It is a small elevated area on the edge of the Tokomairiro (paddling through a swamp) plains.
This area was originally surveyed as the location of the town of Fairfax to be the centre for the plains. As the plains were developed they became the source of grain for nearby Dunedin city. A mill was built out on the plains near the railroad and a town sprung up around it. This mill town became Milton and the town of Fairfax never developed.
The area became and remains a small semi rural community. It is populated by a wide slice of New Zealand society from the disadvantaged who want a low cost environment to the well off who are seeking a relaxed and expansive area to live in. We are all Tokoitians and enjoy the laid back lifestyle while still able to enjoy the facilities of nearby Milton and Dunedin. In fact several work in the city while living here.
Animals
Sheep: New Zealand is well known for its sheep so it will be no surprise that there are more of them than any other animal. There are currently four ewes (girls), four wethers (desexed boys) and one ram (whole boy). The ewes and wethers rotate round the various paddocks in seperate flocks and you may see them on the web camera at times. Romeo the ram spends most of the time in his own paddock beside the drive with occasional breaks in other paddocks. See Number 11's Story.
Donkey: Rose is my pet donkey and she spends most of her time in the centre paddock. She is on a diet so is restricted to strips of ground using electric fences.
Birds: There are a number of introduced and native birds that visit the farm. In winter the web camera shows some of these visiting a nectar feeder.
Rabbits: Considered a pest but quite cute wild rabbits are not uncommon.
Possums: Also a pest these marsupials introduced from Australia eat their way through the trees and will even raid bird nests.
Cats: Visitors from the neighbours they also are not good for the bird population.
People: There may be a couple of them hanging around too.