TRIP REPORT : South Wairarapa

 19 – 20 January 2002 :   South Wairarapa

We had a warm welcome from Eileen Brindle and David Stone at their property on Te Rata Road, Pirinoa, then began listing species in their remarkable kahikatea / tawa swamp forest.   Protected since November 1998 by a QEII Open Space Covenant, this 1.9ha remnant impressed us with the number of species present – we listed 94 during a three-hour visit, the stature of the canopy and emergent trees, and the good condition of the forest.   Among the species we saw were kahikatea, rimu, totara, miro, matai, nikau, swamp coprosma, pukatea, wharangi, large-leaved and small-leaved milk trees, and kiekie, and a good variety of fern species.

The forest has been designated a Key Native Ecosystem (KNE) by Wellington Regional Council (WRC).   Eileen and David, in collaboration with WRC, have been poisoning possums for four years, and the results are obvious - there is little evidence of browsing, and plenty of seedlings.   Some of the plants near the driveway are species native to other parts of NZ.   These are not within the covenant, so we listed them, indicating them as (P) for planted.   Among them are kauri, tanekaha and puriri.

Just before lunch on the verandah, a southerly arrived which became wild by mid-afternoon and changed our plans for the rest of the weekend.   We retreated to a beautifully restored woolshed owned by Jim and Marilyn Law, where three of us spent a cosy night after a pot-luck dinner.   Next morning, in wet weather, Jim showed us several remnants on his farm, north of Pirinoa, and a series of three constructed wetlands.   He plans to fence the remnants, and plant native species around the wetlands.

Homeward bound on Sunday, we made quick visits to Tuhitarata and Kahutara Scenic Reserves, to check on access and interest for future field trips.   We acknowledge the advice from Aalbert Rebergen, DOC Masterton Area Office, that the west block of the former is almost impenetrable!

We thank Pat Enright for supplying species lists, and obtaining permission for us to visit remnants along Dyerville Road, and Blue Rock Road, and hope that we can botanise them on a trip when "Hughie... is in a better mood.

Before leaving Featherston, Bev, Barbara and I botanised Dorset Square Native Reserve, at the corner of SH2 and Moore St (which becomes Western Lake Road), a fine example of the horticultural use of native plants.   It is well worth a visit, to see the range of species planted, and to see what a small group of determined people can do when they have a paddock of rank grass to convert into a botanic garden.

Participants: Bev Abbott, Gavin Dench, Geoff Doring, Jenny Doring, Chris Horne, Barbara Mitcalfe, Sunita Singh.

Chris Horne