TRIP REPORT : Gilberd Bush Reserve, Newlands

 Saturday :   21 January 2006

Blechnum fluviatile.   Photo: Jeremy Rolfe.

A large number of people turned out on a hot summer day to Gilberd Bush Reserve in Newlands.   Armed with a species list compiled mainly by Mrs Iris Coulter and Mr E.W. Williams on 6 July 1974 on a Wellington Botanical Society trip, we set out to determine what changes had occurred in the intervening years.

The area is a steep-sided gully which runs from near the top of Newlands down to the Hutt Road.   Slowly moving down the side of the gully we found a number of large Fuchsia excorticata and a very large Griselinia lucida and Hebe parviflora.   Not being able to get further down the gully, we retraced our steps back up and then crossed the head of the gully and worked our way around to the other side.   Along this part of the track were Elaeocarpus dentatus and Dysoxylum spectabile.   We saw a good variety of ferns such as Blechnum fluviatile, Poystichum vestitum, Adiantum cunninghamii and Blechnum chambersii were observed.   We lunched on the track not far from the entrance.

After lunch some of the party walked down the road to a similar patch of bush adjacent to the old Horokiwi landfill.   Although almost the same species were seen, this area seemed more advanced in age and recovery than Gilberd Bush.   A new track system is being formed by contractors to Wellington City Council in Gilberd Bush Reserve will enable easier access to the area for locals and visitors.

Participants :   Bev Abbott, Amber Bill, Eileen Bredin, Barbara Clark, Penny Currier, Frances Forsyth, Bryan Halliday, Kath Henderson, Chris Horne, Brenda Johnston, Zena Kavas, Lynsie Kerr, Rodney Lewington, Barbara Mitcalfe, Merrin Pearse, Jan Rowland, Darea Sherrett, John van der Sman, Robyn Smith, Julia Stace, Louise Taylor, Jon Terry, Julia White.

Robyn Smith