South Wairarapa Tramping Club – Local Q E II Bush Covenants
This trip was intended to be a bike and walk occasion, but due to the rain, only 3 hardy souls chose the biking option!
On Kemptons Line, the landowner told us of the history of this bush area, 1.5ha of mainly 200 year old kahikitea, and wetland. It was fenced to keep stock out in 1973, and 10 years later, after involvement with DOC and the Wellington Regional Council, the area was covenanted under the Q E II scheme. Those organisations plus the Wairarapa Biodiversity Group assist with spraying blackberry, and planting. Despite the wetland drying out in summer, the rare mudfish survive in wet ground beneath the clay surface.
On to a property on Fabians Line, where thick mist prevented us from seeing the spectacular views down to the Ruamahanga River. The trees in this covenant area are mainly puketea and kahikitea, and these survive the occasional flood.
The last reserve, Nga Rakau at Wards Line, again featured 200 year old kahikitea. One area was fenced only 6 years ago, and already hundreds of seedlings are coming up, now animals are not grazing there any more. The other area was fenced about 20 years ago. Both areas are underplanted annually with manuka, corokia, ribbonwood, pittisporum etc. The landowners have a constant battle with pests, so to protect the bird life they trap and lay poison for rats, rabbits, stoats and ferrets.
The club members really appreciated being able to visit these areas, and marvelled at what had been achieved by the landowners.
SWTC welcomes new members! Phone or email Ed and Juliet Cooke, 304 9497, efjac@xtra.co.nz, if you are interested in joining the club for an outing, or just want a bit more information. Check out our web site and Facebook page!
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