Army land tour offered

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 579, 28 March 1995, Page 12

Army land tour offered

Soldiers training in W aiouru may not be aware of the unique environment they work in but the Army' s Land management Officer is. Mr JohnMangos wants to share his love of the Central North Island high country with local people so he has offered to cohduct a guided trip through the Army Training Area. John Mangos will provide the commentary on two half-day trips being coordinated by the Weir Tce Kindergarten. He hopes that locals will take the opportunity to find oiit more about "their backyard". Ecological, historical and geological aspects of the region will all be covered but for many people the highlight will be contact with the wild horses. "We'll see the corrals where the horses have been captured and I can fill people in on the latest developments in the management of the herd. Although the horses graze on Army land, DoC is responsible for the management, "said Mr Mangos. The tours will follow the same route as the popular Summer Programme "Wild Horses" trip run by DoC. Over 200 people participated in these tours earlier this year but organiser for the kindergarten, Mrs Jan Savell, felt that many locals may have missed out.

In early January when DoC had their trips, many people were on holiday and away from the region Mrs Savell said. 'I was lucky enough to go on one of the trips and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a great day for both me and the children. My only regret was that my husband wasn't able to come too. "Now the kindergarten is co-ordinating the same trip but aiming it at the locals for a fraction of the price. We wanjt to promote it as a family event."