One of Our Best Short Walks

Forest and Bird, Issue 296, 1 May 2000, Page 40

One of Our Best Short Walks

—Chris Rance,

T* Gambles’ Educational Boardwalk in Southland is a place where discerning birdwatchers flock to see New Zealand’s secretive fernbird. Not only that but a unique short walk, described as one of the best in New Zealand, takes visitors through tall podocarp forest, manuka shrubland and estuary rushland. Along the way they will also see two mistletoe species, and one of the largest populations of the threatened plume grass Deschampsia caespitosa, and get panoramic views of the New River Estuary, Bluff and Stewart Island. The foresight of previous owners Bill and Mary Holvey ensured this gem would be protected in perpetuity when they placed a QEII National Trust covenant over the property in 1991. There was also money set aside for fencing so the bush

could be protected while still allowing some grazing land. When Ian and Jenny Gamble bought the property in 1992 they had no intention of grazing the land and so put the fencing money towards a boardwalk. Over a number of years, Ian and Jenny and their two sons, Terry and Willy, have worked hard on building and maintaining the boardwalk. In the early years, Roger Sutton (the trust representative) spent many hours preparing the timber and working with groups such as the Conservation Corps, Forest and Bird and local residents, to build the boardwalk. Recently another milestone was reached — an interpretation sign was gifted by a longstanding Southland ornithologist and Forest and Bird member, Margaret Divers. Margaret well remembers the days when

Maida Barlow, a well-known Southland ornithologist, studied the territorial behaviour of fernbirds here, between 1978 and 1980. The Gambles’ Boardwalk is well-used by local residents, groups, schools and overseas

visitors. The walk takes about 20 minutes (or a lot longer) and is open by prior arrangement. Phone Ian or Jenny Gamble on (03) 213 1302 to arrange a visit.

Southland Forest

and Bird.