In 2002 a couple of residents approached Vela Farms Ltd for agreement to plant a native forest on 15 hectares of retired farmland that was steep, slip prone and unproductive.
Twenty years later, the group has planted over 20,000 native trees, 70% of which were raised from eco sourced seed from the area. Species planted include kauri, hebes, pururi, lacebark, manuka, kanuka, cabbage trees, flax, kowhai, tanekaha, totara, kawakawa, rewarewa, mahoe, tarata, tawapoa, and karaka.
Bird life has increased dramatically since the forest has evolved. Kiwi can often be heard at night as well as ruru which had not been heard before. Kaka which were not there 3 years ago are now showing up – probably from the Mercury Islands. The close to twenty years old trees are now self seeding. Kauri cones have developed and their seeds are being dispersed. The original intention was to create an environment or corridor for native species to fly from the Mercury Islands to the native forest on the Kuaotunu Peninsula. We hope today that vision can be realised.
We have been fortunate in the past to receive funding from the Waikato Regional Council to purchase traps and weed sprays to control mammalian pests (rats, stoats, hedgehogs and possums) and weed species (ginger, pampas, tobacco weed and cotoneaster). Additional funds have come from ‘Trees That Count’ to purchase more native trees. Because of the risk of ‘Kauri Dieback’ affecting our 400-plus kauri planted to date, we have supplied bottles of spray that kills the kauri dieback spores at the track entrance. The track is not open for public access.
