Otari-Wiltons Bush Slideshow

A picture is worth... 157 words summarising the forest restoration project. Twenty-one sites were identified along the Kaiwharawhara Valley and planting began in 2001. Two of these sites 1 and site 4 had been unsuccessfully planted in the mid-nineties.

Seeds are collected locally to ensure that the trees will suit the surrounding ecosystem.

The seeds are then prepared at Otari. Propogation varies depending on the species.

Seedlings are potted up into milk cartons and grown on at the Otary nursery. They generally take from one to five years to be ready to plant. Some take longer.

In 1994, site 1 was cleared of rubbish and weeds and planted. Unfortunately the results were not good. Poor soil conditions, inappropriate species selection and a lack of follow up weed control resulted in most seedlings dying.

Despite being planted again in 1997 and 2001, the survival and growth rate of the trees on site 1 was poor. When Jonathan and Bronwen were asked to co-ordinate the revegetation project in 2002, they monitored the sites that had been planted in 2001 to figure out which trees were surviving best. Jonathan and Bronwen have been employed by the Otari Wilton’s Bush Trust, using funds gained from a Wellington City Council environmental grant.

By February 2004, most of site 1 was finally covered with trees.

Site 17 was planted in June 2002. Later, in September 2002, it was also monitored to record survival and growth rates of the different species.

By August 2003, site 17 was well covered by the native trees. We continued monitoring this and other sites to learn how to maximise the time and money being invested in the reforestation project.

When we monitored site 17 in February 2004 with a group from the Global Volunteer Network, most trees were above head height. A canopy had developed that was shading out most weeds.

Tree planting days are held on Saturday mornings throughout June, July and August. Over 30 volunteers planted site 9 in June 2003, but that’s not the end of the job.

One of the keys to success has been regular ‘plant care’ work parties. Site 11 was planted out in June 2003. This shot shows Otari Trust volunteers weeding and staking the plants in December 2003.

Plant care work parties can be very satisfying. Once a site is cleared of weeds the progress the seedlings are making becomes obvious. This picture is of site 16 only ten months after planting.

The reforestation project has been attracting individual volunteers as well as groups from various organisations such as the Teachers College (left), Global Volunteer Network, Otari School, Mormons and the World Wildlife Fund. Special tree planting sessions can be arranged to suit the needs of most groups.

Another key to success has been monitoring the sites to work out which plants survive best and can compete with weeds such as rank grass. Here the Global Volunteers monitor the most exposed area on site 6. Because the sites are so large we just monitor a plot that is 30 square metres.

On site 18, a combination of the right trees, careful planting and a sheltered site, resulted in a canopy of trees that could shade out most weeds in just one year.

The end goal can be seen by taking a walk along the track that weaves through existing native forest beside Kaiwharawhara Stream just north of the Troup Picnic area in Otari-Wilton’s Bush.