TRIP REPORT : Wilf Mexted Scenic Reserve

 Saturday, 6th September 2003 :   Wilf Mexted Scenic Reserve

This trip commenced at Wilf Mexted Scenic Reserve at the corner of Collins Avenue and Woodman Drive, Tawa, being welcomed by deputy trip leader Richard Robertson as my incoming international flight was delayed. I caught up with the group later in the morning. Meanwhile an excellent turnout of about 18 hardy BotSoc’ers had begun botanising up the northern slopes of Wilf Mexted Reserve and discovered some additional miro and kahikitea trees. This relatively small reserve comprises a 1.6 ha island of bush in a gully dominated by an impressive mixed tawa and kohekohe stand. Years of neglect and lack of possum control in this reserve have unfortunately resulted in a very poor under-story development. Nevertheless there were some new species added to the previous list last based upon a survey by Lands and Survey in 1983 and published in “Scenic Reserves of the Lower North Island” 1986. New species included; Arictotelia serrata, Beilschmiedia tawa (inadvertently left off previous lists), Coprosma propinqua subsp. Propinqua, Coprosma propinqua x C. robusta (unc), Griselinea lucida, Knightia excelsa, Olearia rani var. colorata, Pittosporum eugenioides (planted), Pittosporum tenuifolium (planted), Pseudopanax lessonii, Sophora microphylla, Metrosideros diffusa, Metrosideros fulgens, plus six additional ferns.

Around lunchtime we adjourned to the top of Larsen Crescent where a bite of lunch was had. Botanising then continued through the Larsen Crescent Reserve, a small 0.5 ha regionally significant remnant site containing an impressive stand of matai, further tawa and a mature totara and generally a large diversity of species for its size. Barbara Metcalf recounted a time in 1996 when this area was under threat from residential development with some 20 significant stems having already been felled before the environment court put a stop to further clearance.

It was this controversy that initially sparked interest in preservation of the native bush areas in Tawa by local neighbours and eventually led to the formation of the Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves Inc. Most of this Larsen Bush area is now held in WCC ownership and is also part of the larger adjoining Redwood Bush KNE area. BotSocers commended the work that the Friends have recently been undertaking in tree planting and also improvements to the quality of the track through the bush, including WCC assistance to boardwalk a section to protect the roots of one significant matai specimen. This matai and also a nearby totara now on private land, are listed by WCC as “Notable Trees” and these represent the only native “Notable Trees” listed in the Tawa area. It was also remarked how significant the effect of the possum baiting, that has been undertaken by the Friends in this area over the past couple of years, has had on stimulating the undergrowth development. Unfortunately it was also noted that some damage of undergrowth is occurring and saplings being pushed over through the movement of decaying logs within the undergrowth. It is thought that this is being instigated by youths searching for magic mushrooms or the like. The orchid, Drymoanthus adversus and nikau (Rhopalostylis sapida) were added to the species list for Larsen Crescent.

With time running out the afternoon concluded with a more hastily stroll through a small portion of the neighbouring Redwood Bush that gave BotSoc’ers a taste for a possible future trip when additional time might be made available to do justice to a fuller botanising of this area. Redwood Bush on the south-western slopes of Tawa comprises some 10 ha plus some further adjoining area of regenerating shrubland. The prime conservation significance of Redwood Bush is its significant remnant of tawa forest, uncommon around Wellington. During this walk the Friends introduced BotSoc’ers to a small stand of kahikitea (uncharacteristically located on an exposed ridgeline), and the impressive twin pukatea’s, the largest of which has a circumference of 4 metres and represents the largest tree in the Redwood Bush area. At the pukatea site it was also noted by BotSoc’ers the existence of nikau seedlings germinating in the damp valley floor. Presumably the seeds of these have been brought in by kereru from the nikau stands of nearby Porirua Scenic Reserve at Elsdon and their survival further attests to the success of the possum baiting.

All of these reserves are currently not well known outside a small circle of locals and part of the planned work of the Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves is to make them more accessible for recreational and educational usage while at the same time ensuring that a suitable track network is in place to minimise trampling and maintaining their protection. Overall a very enjoyable day was had.

Richard Herbert, Vice-President, Friends of Tawa Bush Reserve - www.tawabush.wellington.net.nz