Despite a recent burglary where thieves made off with $15,000 worth of gear - including his gumboots - Russell Langdon is forging ahead with his conservation plans.

The local farmer turned conservationist might have slowed down a bit in his 90s but his plans for Riverbridge Conservation Park near the south branch of the Ashburton River are still all go.

He plans to grow and improve his bird sanctuary and conservation area, despite the recent burglary.

Thieves made off with an electric fence unit and other items work about $15,000 about two weeks ago. They even stole Langdon's gumboots.

He has reported the incident to police.

Nevertheless, the work goes on.

A strip of land on either side a groundwater ditch has been planted with natives - kowhai on one side and three rows with different varieties of hebe on the other.

Langdon said the hebe would help attract lizards to the property.

The area has been fenced off with an electric fence to stop hares from munching on the plant tops.

A new pond will be ready by spring. Langdon said the pond would be more open than the other ponds at Riverbridge and would provide a different habitat and appeal to different bird species.

Work is underway to connect a series of paths to create a walkway around the conservation park, complete with wooden bridges over creeks and waterways. Langdon expects the work to complete in time for summer, complete with a map.

He also plans to host birding groups at the nature centre at Riverbridge come summer.

Langdon said the fastest growing sector was nature tourism and he had not given up hopes of getting blue ducks back at the conservation park.

By Sharon Davis