TRIP REPORT : Huntleigh Park forest remnant

 23 March 2003 :   Huntleigh Park forest remnant

This trip was BotSoc’s contribution to Wellington City Council’s Stepping Out! programme of walks in March.   The Council’s objective was to provide people with a wide range of outings each week.   Our trip was a course in native plant identification for the 14 participants, and a chance to make them aware of the benefits of joining BotSoc.

We used a plant list prepared by Barbara in 1996, and BotSoccers, Pat Enright and Olaf John in 1994–98.   It listed 119 native plants, which we numbered to help people to find a botanical / Maori / common name quickly.   It also listed 29 adventive plants by botanical and common name.   The system worked well.

This forest, between Ngaio and Crofton Downs, is impressive, and because of its network of tracks, a good place for teaching plant identification.

We thank the Girl Guides’ Association for permission to use a track on their land, near the WCC part of the forest.   We thank Andy Nelson, Recreation Wellington, Wellington City Council, for the invitation to run a field trip in this programme.

Chris Horne and Barbara Mitcalfe, co-leaders