TRIP REPORT : Ridge Track from Te Marua to Kaitoke

 Saturday :   3 September 2005

Raukaua edgerleyi.   Photo: Jeremy Rolfe.

Fifteen people turned up to traverse the Ridge Track from Te Marua to Kaitoke.   The weather was cool but fine and the track was in very good condition owing to the lack of recent rain.

The nominated time is three hours to walk the track but in true BotSoc fashion it took six hours to complete the trip.   The group soon split into two smaller groups and proceeded in this fashion for the rest of the day, with contact being made again only at the end of the trip.

The track passes from pasture across Benge Creek, with some native vegetation, then ascends through gorse and scrub to enter the bush proper.   There is an initial climb to reach the ridge but then the track undulates along it before descending to the road at Kaitoke.   A very interesting selection of vegetation types are traversed along the way.   There are areas of black, red, silver, and hard beech (the odd hybrid black x hard) which gave a great opportunity for a comparison to be made and the differences noted.

Though the species list was reasonably comprehensive, several species were added, including the notable Raukaua edgerleyi.   The sundew Drosera auriculata was becoming evident and the orchid species were certainly more advanced from when the original recce was done.   This is evidence of the value of many sets of eyes and the need for a comprehensive survey to cover ALL the seasons to pick up those species with a short or seasonal “shelf life”.   A moss list was completed for the track by Peter Beveridge and has been appended to the vascular plant list.

Participants : Chris Hopkins, Olaf John, Peter Beveridge, Annadele Bouch, Darea Sherratt, Rodney Lewington, Allannah Matheson, Wayne ..., Pat McLean, Pat Enright (trip leader), Chris Moore, Barbara Mitcalfe, Sue Freitag, Barry Dent, Nikki Lloyd.

Pat Enright