Park Nature Programmes

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30943, 27 December 1965, Page 10

Park Nature Programmes

Nature programmes i in Canterbury national parks have already begun. Half-day nature walks began in Mount Cook National Park yesterday, conducted bypark rangers, and will leave from the park headquarters at 9 a m. and 2.30 p.m. daily until January 16. A special week’s nature | programme at Arthur’s Pass National Park will begin on New Year’s Day, and will be repeated in the week January 8-13, plus special trips for those who have taken part in the first week's programme. It will be organised by Mr D. Pringle, science adviser to the CanterburyEducation Board. Activities at Arthur’s Pass include family picnic outings to Margaret’s. Farm, the Hawdon valley, the Dobson track, the Devil’s punchbowl (adults only) and the Bealey spur,!

I where animals and birds, geo- J logical and riverbed formations. bush, grassland, and scrubland will be studied. There will be associated competitions in art plant-nam-ing and colouring (for child- : ren), and special “young observer" books for children about interesting nature-study topics. An introductory slide even- . ing to explain the week s pro- : gramme will be held in the > alpine museum at Arthur’s . Pass on January 1 at 8 p.m., • with slide, lecture, and movie i film evenings on subsequent , nights. The Mount Cook nature ' walks will alternate between , Kea point and the Hooker val- ' levy in the mornings, and will' be to Governor’s bush in the afternoons. Colour-slide lectures will be • held every evening until Jan-? uary 16 in the park headquar- i i ters. There will be the follow-!' ing three programmes: j “A Climbing Trip in the!' Southern Alps.” featuring the? more remote mountain areas.? i “The Natural History of the,

Southern Alps,” showing geology, plant, and bird life in the mountains. “The Mount Cook and Westland National Parks." depicting scenery in those two reserves. No firm nature programme has been planned at the Westland National Park—but from, tomorrow until the end of: January nature walks and ’ slide talks will be held several! times each week at both Franz Josef and Fox glaciers. The actual days "will depend on the arrival of visitors, and the programme will be worked around the times when visiting is at its peak,” according to a National Parks Authority .information sheet. Only limited time can be i spent on nature programmes at Abel Tasman National Park, as the park ranger is in hospital, and the man who was Ito conduct the nature programme will now be required Ito help run the park headquarters office and motor camp. No firm plans have been i made.