Bushy Park (New Zealand)

Bushy Park Tarapuruhi
Cabbage tree in Bushy Park
Location791 Rangitatau East Road, Manawatū-Whanganui region, North Island, New Zealand
Nearest cityWhanganui
Area100 hectares (250 acres)
Established1962
Governing bodyBushy Park Homestead and Forest Trust
website

Bushy Park is a forest reserve located on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) inland from Kai Iwi in the Wanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui region and has an area of approximately 100 hectares (250 acres).[1] The reserve is characterized as a lowland remnant of rata-podocarp tawa-puketea rainforest.[2] According to Forest & Bird, Bushy Park is considered to be amongst the 25 best restoration ecology projects in Australia and New Zealand.[3] The reserve is protected by a predator-proof fence, and is a native bird sanctuary.[4] The reserve also features an Edwardian-era homestead which is registered as a Category I heritage building with Heritage New Zealand.[5]

History

In 1880, 391 ha (966 acres) were transferred from Uru Te Angina to James Moore for £483. Moore established a large farm on the estate and his son Frank Moore became known as a breeder of cattle and horses. However, 245 acres (99 ha) were preserved, and this area is now the Bushy Park Tarapuruhi reserve.[6] The forest reserve and the 22-room Edwardian homestead, built for Frank Moore in 1906, were bequeathed to the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand by Moore upon his death in 1962.[7]

The homestead, bird sanctuary, and rain forest have been managed by Bushy Park Homestead and Forest Trust since 1994.[8][9] The Bushy Park Festival, an annual event on the Sunday of Wellington Anniversary weekend, has been a major fundraising event for the trust.[10]

During the period of 2004 to 2005, a 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) pest-exclusion fence was built around the park and two aerial drops of rodent bait occurred later in 2005.[7] The opening of Bushy Park’s kiwi creche, also in 2005, was marked by the arrival of a female kiwi chick from the Waimarino Forest.[2]

Flora and fauna

A network of ten forest paths traverse the forest reserve that includes mahoe, mamaku, pukatea, rātā, and rimu along with colonies of ferns and mosses.[3][11] A feature of the reserve is a large northern rātā (Metrosideros robusta) named Ratanui ("Big Rata"). The tree is estimated to be 1000 years old.[12] It is 43 metres (141 ft) in height while its girth exceeds 11 metres (36 ft),[1] and prior to the establishment of the predator-proof fence it was severely damaged by possums.[2] This tree featured in an international writing project called 26 Trees.[13]

Avifauna species include korimako, kererū, toutouwai, tīeke, and tūī,[7] as well as the kārearea, pīwakawaka, riroriro, mallard, pūkeko, tauhou, and matuku moana.[3]

In May 2022, a flock of 52 whiteheads (pōpokotea) were translocated from Waitahinga Reserve to Bushy Park.[14]

Giraffe weevils, glowworms, and huhu beetles also inhabit Bushy Park.[3]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bushy Park (New Zealand).
  1. ^ a b "Parks & Reserves". New Zealand Tourism Board. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "Bushy Park – a Wanganui Treasure". savethekiwi.org.nz. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d "Bushy Park Awarded". Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Welcome". bushypark.co.nz. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  5. ^ "Bushy Park (New Zealand)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  6. ^ Workman, Jayne (12 May 2022). "Rātānui Reverence". www.forestandbird.org.nz. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Grand Old Lady of Bushy Park Celebrates 100 years". Flow Magazine, Issue 5. Bushy Park Trust. 2006. Archived from the original on 14 March 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  8. ^ "Bushy Park". Sanctuaries of New Zealand. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  9. ^ Beaglehole, Diana (26 February 2010). "Whanganui places". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  10. ^ "Bushy Park Festival". newzealand.com. 13 March 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  11. ^ Frances, Helen. "Bushy Park Kiwi Creche". fourcorners.co.nz. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  12. ^ Workman, Jayne (12 May 2022). "Rātānui Reverence". www.forestandbird.org.nz. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  13. ^ Workman, Jayne. "Within | 26 Trees". 26project.org.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  14. ^ "More than 50 pōpokotea whiteheads reintroduced to Whanganui sanctuary". RNZ. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.

External links

  • Official website
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