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Welcome to the Reserve Newsletter
Welcome to the first edition of our newsletter. We hope that through this six monthly newsletter we will be able to keep you in touch with the reserve’s progress and special events. Weather permitting, the Friends of the Reserve meet most Saturday mornings at the Reserve for planting and general site maintenance. You are most welcome to join us and partake in the activities. We also have the occasional “working bees” where a special effort is made to complete a particular project. Articles for future editions are most welcome. Brian Wilsden - Editor

Our new financial year got off to a good start with a formal ceremony to declare the Reserve an amenity for the general public to enjoy. It was opened by Dr. Morgan Williams on the 12th April 2008 . We were also honoured with the presence of local dignitaries.

Our guests were welcomed by the pupils from the school with a powhiri - the traditional Maori welcome - led by their senior teacher Kellis Bennet.

An estimated 150 members of the public attended.

The purpose of the Reserve is to
provide the public
with a resource of
historic and cultural significence,
available for
educational and recreational activities.

Points of Interest

One reliable spring area has been heavily planted with fern.
The tallest native tree on the reserve is a kahikatea.
Some of the oldest trees on the reserve are 90 year old exotics.
Most of the island has been cleared of tree lucerne but access to the island is hindered by having to use a raft that cannot be handled by one person.

It has been a good springtime with vigorous growth, crimped in some vulnerable species by ongoing frosts.
Minor vandalism is annoying and wasteful of the efforts to create a pristine forest.
Bird nesting is evident and points to an expanding ecosystem.
The specimen Kauri tree, 3 metres tall and 13 years old, appears to have suddenly died for no apparent reason.

        Has anyone got a
        small light dinghy that
        could be lent for a few
        weeks to the reserve         where it would be kept         under lock?

Dr. Morgan Williams
opening the Reserve.

Official Opening of The Reserve

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