Where we live, and the need for good wind shelter belts!

Our bit of dirt is in an area called West Melton in the Cantebury plains of the South Island of New Zealand. The soil is fertile but shallow laid atop alluvial flood plain ie. stones so is free draining. In summer the Northwest wind is a problem - strong and gusty and warm. It is a product of the Fohn effect where the wind passes over a mountain range dumping rain on one side and on the other blowing onto the plains as a warm (sometimes hot) dry wind.