Forest regeneration project in Upper Hutt

Forest and Bird, Issue 294, 1 November 1999, Page 42

Forest regeneration project in Upper Hutt

ince 1994 the Upper Hutt S branch of Forest and Bird has been involved in a successful joint effort to rejuvenate two surviving areas of native forest in Trentham Memorial Park. Known as Barton’s Bush and Domain Bush, these are the only remaining areas of the original lowland forest which once covered the Hutt Valley. Following a study of the area in 1994, which revealed a negected and weed infested area, a report was prepared and Forest and Bird offered to coordinate several interested groups. Upper Hutt City Council has provided ongoing funding for weed and pest control in the area, and helps pay towards the production of more than 4000 trees and shrubs to be planted back into the forest each season. These plants are sourced from seedlings and seed collected from the Upper Hutt area. They

are collected and grown by an enthusiastic group of Forest and Bird members, and by Upper Hutt College students. The Hutt International Boys’ School has more recently joined the scheme. A shadehouse at Rimutaka Prison is used for raising many of the young plants. Help is given by some of the prisoners, both in potting up young plants and planting them in the bush. A number of other groups also help with the planting out. The success of this project is evident in the healthy, vigorous growth of the bush and the many favourable comments from local people who visit the park. It has been an excellent exercise in cooperation between very different local groups, and in providing many students with an ongoing practical experience of how regeneration works.