Diary page
This page will be updated regularly with Foundation activities.
Last updated 14th March 2008
This page will be updated regularly with Foundation activities.
One hundred people gathered at Rewanui and climbed to the summit of Mt Clyde. The occasion was the "Summits for Ed" project initiated by the Ed Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre. A rock was carried down from the summit for inclusion in a memorial to Sir Edmund at Ruapehu.
Part of the group on the track up the Mt Clyde valley.
New signs for the Kowhai track which is now open for use but still has some work needed.
Work commenced on the Kowhai track leading past Erics Totara named after Eric Richardson, lessee of Rewanui for 20 years. Eric is a keen conservator of native forest and did much to reduce the possum population during his tenure.
The Ruamahanga Probus Club members grew some hebe seedlings for planting at Rewanui to encourage the butterflies that feed on Onga Onga.
Bernice Olsen plants one of the hebes she grew.
The Tinui school helped with the first planting of the Rewanui wetland. The planting included these Kahikitea
A group of Wairarapa Farm Foresters in front of regenerating Totara in the Trimble Forest at Miki Miki. They were some of
70 people who attended an open day and bush walk
Ducks Unlimited assisted with the excavation of a new wetland area on Rewanui
The trial trees have been release sprayed and most are looking well, although this Red Beech looks healthy it has not changed in height since planting
A farm track on Rewanui has been upgraded to allow dry weather access for logging trucks. Care has been taken to disturb existing trees as little as possible. The track will be used to extract timber from two Radiata plantations
When the digger was finished on the track we took the opportunity to rescue these boulders that will be used in strategic positions in the car park
A Totara tree in the Trimble Forest was blown over during the spring, it was milled with several other windfall trees.
A row of Eucalypts along the road frontage of the Trimble Forest produced some good straight logs.
Experimental sawing of a Eucalypt log was encouraging enough to proceed with milling them.
The 2006 AGM was held at the the homestead on Rewanui, preceded by an inspection of an area of scattered bush in the middle of the property.
Five trustees spent two days visiting various tree planting projects in Hawkes Bay.
The first stop was at Waipukarau where the Rotary club has sponsored memorial trees at the foot of the Pukeora hill
Well protected trees at the Guthrie Smith Aboretum next to Lake Tutira
In Holts forest trustees were impressed with this Redwood stand as well as many other well tended timber species.
Liz Waddington and Steve Blakemore discuss logmaking with the crew working in the Trimble forest. Harvesting is proceeding well with good quality logs being produced.
Benching of the the public tracks in the Richardson Bush has been completed and a stile installed to give access to a lookout on the neighbouring O'Connor property from the Matai loop. The grade on the Matai loop has also been eased by adding extra zig zags.
Members of the foundation inspected the Trimble forest prior to deciding to harvest it over the next two winters. From the left are Judith Callaghan, Stuart Orme (forest manager), Liz Waddington, Mike Wyeth and Bruce Watkins (administrator). Photo taken by Ian Campbell.
Fifty Rewarewa have been planted at the Western edge of the Richardson Bush. The twenty nearest the big pine have been fertilised, others have been planted close to the bush edge and some out in the open.
Three tracks opened to public on Rewanui. People can walk through the Richardson bush and visit some of the very old trees there or climb to the Mt Clyde trig for extensive views of the Wairarapa. For more information about the tracks click here
Discussion on trial layout at a typical site. Participants from the left are Stu Orme forest manager , Hilton Dickens farm forester, Peter Berg and David Bergmen from Tane Tree Trust.
The gate is made from Rewarewa milled from windfall trees on Rewanui. We are interested to see how long it will last in the open. The term "kissing gate" refers to the fact that it "kisses" the rails on either side and has nothing to do with romance!
Walkers returning from the bush walk.
Freshly sawn timber showing the typical attractive grain of Rewarewa.
Ithsmus Group landscape architects have been engaged to provide concept plans for Rewanui. They will provide designs for signs, track markers and buildings as well as a planting plan for the flat area. The cutting of the lower loop track in the Western Bush is complete and work will continue to bring it up to a suitable standard for public access.
Scene from the lower loop walk, one of many Rewa Rewa trees.
At our meeting today the decision was made to provide public access to parts of Rewanui. Steps are now being taken to create and mark suitable tracks and to provide a car parking area separate to the farm entrance. We are keen to plant the Mangapakeha paddock at the Eastern end of Rewanui in a mixed forest with appropriate tre species on the different aspects. Our Forestry consultants are working on plan to implement this in 2006.
Foundation members inspected the recent plantings of Radiata in the Trimble forest. Those on the upper terrace are doing well but the trees on the lower terrace are not thriving. The members took the opportunity to walk through a protected area of bush on Dunvegan next to the Trimble Forest.
This magnificent Totara is growing on "Dunvegan" next to the Trimble forest, it and many other Totaras and Matais illustrate the wealth of timber the area can produce.
About 100 people attended an open day at Rewanui. The purpose of the day was to give people the chance to explore part of the property and get feed back about future development. One hundred flax and cabbage trees were planted to mark the beginning of a native tree regeneration project. Many of the visitors took the opportunity to make the 280m climb to the Mt Clyde trig although views were restricted at times by the weather. The Foundation was encouraged by the attendance and positive opinions expressed and will consider plans to make the bush area available to the public at all times.
Time to talk and exchange ideas.
A group of people planting trees at the foot of the Mt Clyde Valley.
Profound discussion looking across transmission gully to the forested area.
An area that has recently been fenced and planted in natives.
Discussions have started with the current lessee about conditions for a longer term lease of the farming areas of Rewanui.
A Regional Council representative spoke to the Foundation about pest control at Rewanui. It was pleasing to hear that possum numbers are currently very low.
The firm of Forest and Woodlot have been appointed as forestry consultants and asked to prepare a report on the current state of the Foundations commercial forests.
A trip is planned to the Regional Council Farm Park of Battle Hill at Pauatahanui which has strong paralells with plans for Rewanui.