TRIP REPORT : Waimapihi Reserve, Wellington City

22 January 2007

This 70-ha reserve is situated adjacent to the historic central city suburb of Aro Valley in a steep upper catchment area previously depleted by heavy livestock grazing.   A group of eleven members compiled a list of 94 vascular species, many of which would not exist without the community restoration work of the past 25 years.   Although small, canopy species such as tawa, titoki, rewarewa and nikau are now well established.   There were some unexpected "finds" that have established such as the crepe fern, Leptopteris hymenophylloides, and Sophora tetraptera.   The latter is one of many comemorative plants in the reserve.

A highlight of the trip was a lunchtime talk by local architect and long time member of the restoration group, David McGill, who outlined some of the colourful, social history of the valley.