BOTSOC FIELD TRIPS 2008 |
The following programme is SUBJECT TO CHANGE. If you wish to go on a field trip, PLEASE help with planning by giving the leader 2 days’ notice before a day trip, MORE notice before weekend trips, and SEVERAL WEEKS’ notice before the New Year’s trip. Remember the weather can be changeable on field trips. Sun hat, balaclava, waterproof/windproof parka, may all be used on a day trip. Recommended trip gear at bottom of page.
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Field Trips Day trips to locations in the Wellington region are usually held on the first Saturday of each month. Extended excursions are usually held at New Year, first weekend in February and Easter. |
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2008 Programme |
Wednesday 30 January - Friday 8 February 2008: Summer Camp Field trip – Aotea / Great Barrier IslandGB has volcanic origins. Its bluffs and ridges bear regenerating kauri forest, and its rolling hills, sweeping white sand beaches, dunes, tidal creeks, and wetlands, provide a wide range of habitats for indigenous flora and fauna. GB has no possums, deer, wallabies, mustelids, hedgehogs, Norway rats! Areas we may visit include: Saturday 23 February: Field trip – Druce garden workbeeHelp with maintenance of this nationally important garden containing many threatened indigenous plant species established by Tony and Helen Druce over forty years ago. It is a QEII National Trust Open Space Covenant. Saturday 1 March: Field trip – Gracefield Scrub, WainuiomataVisit a remnant of swamp that once covered large areas of Wainuiomata. See Ranunculus macropus, Baumea
rubiginosa, Gahnia xanthocarpa and a variety of Carexes. We will also botanise regenerating bush in the hills above the swamp. Bring gumboots for the swamp. Friday 21 March – Monday 24 March: Easter field trip – Western Ruahine RangeBotanise Ngamoko Range, Ruahine Forest Park, and reserves in the Pohangina Valley - possibilities include tussock
grasslands, beech and cedar forest, lowland podocarp forest, and even plant communities on road cuttings. Saturday 5 April: Field trip – Eastern Hutt catchmentBotanise track to Phillips Stream, including wetland, then TL terraces of Eastern Hutt River - matai / northern ratahardwood forest, then TR, and track to saddle - beech / hinau / kamahi forest, with some podocarps and northern
rata. See large patches of Dawsonia superba. Other possibilities: botanise lower end of Quoin Ridge, or downstream to Western Hutt River. We will drive to end of 4WD road in Greater Wellington Regional Council vehicles. Saturday 10 May: Field trip – Korokoro - Maungaraki BushNOTE CHANGE OF DATE Saturday 7 June: Field trip – East Harbour Regional ParkBotanise Kaitawa Track, Ridge Track, and Ferry Road Track and gully. See black and hard beech forest, with terrestrial northern rata. Saturday 14 June: Field trip – Te Marua Bush workbeeNOTE EXTRA FIELD TRIP Saturday 5 July: Field trip – Ngaio reservesBotanise Heke Reserve, Huntleigh Park, and Trelissick Park. See kohekohe forest in flower, podocarps, kamahi, tall kanuka, hinau and tawa, lianes and ferns; also revegetation plantings. Beginners especially welcome. Plant list and park pamphlets will be supplied. Saturday 2 August: Field trip – Pauatahanui InletBotanise this wetland of international significance and see the re-vegetation work being done by Forest and Bird. Study birds from the specially constructed ‘hides’. Saturday 6 September: Field trip – Dry Creek, Belmont Regional ParkBotanise this DOC reserve, which is managed by Greater Wellington Regional Council, as part of the park. See black beech at its southern limit in the North Island, regenerating native forest, and waterfalls. Saturday 20 September: Field trip – Te Marua Bush workbeeIn partnership with Greater Wellington, BotSoc has been committed since 1989 to do weed control and revegetation in this important matai / totara / maire remnant in Kaitoke Regional Park. Our biennial workbees must continue so that we keep ahead of re-invasion by weeds, particularly around the plantings, so please come to help with this important work. Bring: Lunch and a drink, gloves, kneeler, weed bag, and your favourite weeding tools e.g. trowel, hand fork, loppers, pruning saw, pinch bar. Saturday 4 October: Field trip – Coastal plants of Rocky Bay and WhitireiaBotanise the neglected but important Rocky Bay coastal wetland, then continue round the coast to Whitireia Park. See the last stand in Titahi Bay of what used to be Hebe elliptica var. crassifolia, now merged into Hebe elliptica. After botanising a patch of coastal turf, we return to our vehicles via an original patch of bush, previously botanised by BotSoc, see the Nationally Endangered Leptinella nana, and view old terraces formerly used by Maori to grow kumara and other vegetables. Friday 16 January - Monday 26 January 2009: Summer Camp – Westport - KarameaThe summer trip of January 2009 will be based in Westport and Karamea. We will arrive on 16th in Westport, move to Karamea on the 21st and leave Karamea on the 26th of January. |
Ideas please We welcome your ideas about: ATTENDING FIELD TRIPS If you intend to join a trip, PLEASE phone the leader at least TWO DAYS beforehand, so that he/she can tell you of any changes and/or particular requirements. If you cannot ring in advance, you are welcome to join on the day. Recommended Clothing for field trips Sun hat, balaclava1 or hat1, waterproof / windproof parka, long-sleeved cotton shirt, singlet1, bushshirt1, 1 or 2 jerseys1, waterproof / windproof overtrousers, nylon shorts, longjohns1, longs1, underclothes, swimming togs, 4 pr socks1, hut shoes, boots, gaiters, mittens1, handkerchief. Day trip gear First aid kit, compass2, map2, insect repellent, whistle, matches in waterproof container, water purification tablets, water bottle, thermos, pocket knife, camera2, binoculars2, hand lens2, note book2, pen and pencil2, sunblock, sunglasses, large plastic survival bag to line pack. Overnight trip gear and food As well as the day trip gear listed above, bring torch, spare bulb and batteries, candle, mug, plate, knife, fork, spoon, small towel, soap, tooth brush, tent, fly, poles and pegs, groundsheet, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, liner and stuff bag. Bring bread, butter / margarine, biscuits, fresh fruit and scroggin. SCROGGIN = Sultanas, Chocolate or Carob, Raisins, Orange peel, Glucose3, Ginger, Including Nuts. 1 = wool, polypropylene or polarfleece as applicable. BotSoc equipment In addition to the gas stoves, billies, kitchen utensils, flies etc., used on long field trips, the following are also available: Health and safety •You are responsible for you own first aid kit. If you have an allergy or medical condition, please carry your own
anti-histamines and medications, tell the trip leader of any problems you may have and how to deal with them. Fitness and experience Our field trips vary considerably in the level of fitness and tramping experience required. Although our main focus is botanical, our programme sometimes offers trips which, in the pursuit of our botanical aims, are more strenuous than others. Although leaders take care to minimise risks, everyone participates at their own risk. If you have any questions about whether you are fit enough for a particular trip, please contact the leader well beforehand. Transport reimbursement of drivers We encourage the pooling of cars for trips. |
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Last Updated 10th May 2008