KENNEDY’S BUSH

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26876, 31 October 1952, Page 12

KENNEDY’S BUSH

ALL LARGE TIMBER GONE

FIRE AND GRAZING MENACES

Although the total area of the reserve on the Port Hills known as Kennedy's Bush is 208 acres, the area covered or partially covered in native bush is only 37 acres. AH large timber in the bush had long since been cut over or had disappeared, said the Director of Parks and Reserves (Mr M. J. Barnett) in his report to the City Council. Trees such as kowhai. ribbonwood, totara, fuchsia, milkwood, broadleaf and matapau were common.

Much of the bush is almost entirely composed of the smaller-leaved manuka, which is infected with the manuka blight. Mr Barnett hopes that that through natural regeneration mixed bush will replace the manuka, which is doomed if the blight becomes widespread.

“Those who are familiar with the bush area state that there has been little apparent change either in its size or composition over the last 15 or 20 years,” reports Mr Barnett. “This may be so, but the constant grazing of animals through it must interfere with the natural regeneration.” That regeneration was being severely restricted by the grazing, and it necessarily followed that in time the bush must suffer. The larger trees such as the totara, ribbonwood, kowhai and pennantia would be replaced by more shrub-like growth, such as the pepper tree and the olearias. The change in the composition of the bush was already taking place and strangling lianes or native vines were becoming too dominant. “Only the boundary fences, some poor, exist and stock wander and graze through the reserve as a whole. The Summit road, which divides part of the property from the rest, is unfenced on either side. In the last 12 months, fences have been seriously damaged by fires begun in an endeavour to control the soread of gorse. “Much of the Kennedy’s Bush area is covered in bracken and gorse, specially on the leased reserve adjoining the reserve of 40 acres, containing 20 acres of bush, on which the Sign of the Bcllbird stands.” Mr Barnett’s proposal is that an area of 93 acres should be fenced off, the area including 37 acres of bush. The balance of 56 acres could be reestablished over the years; in this area there exist, as small groups and isolated specimens, remnants of the original bush. Sign of the Bellbird

“What to do with the Sign of the Bellbird building is a problem yet to be solved,” reports Mr Barnett. “It has been suggested that it be demolished and the materials used in the reconstruction of the Sign of the Kiwi and also that it be converted into a hostel for tramping clubs, as was done with the Sign of the Packhorse. It should be remembered however, that the Sign of the Packhorse is much further away and out of reach of vandals who would delight in wrecking the Sign of the Bellbird when it was not occupied by members of tramping clubs.”

There would not be, in Mr Barnett’s opinion, sufficient regular custom throughout the year to justify the establishment of a public tea rooms at the Sign of the Bellbird, which, he suggests, might be converted to a residence for a caretaker for the Kennedy’s bush reserve. The appointment of a caretaker would, he reports, be one of the best against the outbreak of fire, one of the greatest menaces to the existing bush.