Mount Thomas

Press, 12 January 1987, Page 20

Mount Thomas

Mount Thomas State Forest is situated in the North Canterbury foothills between the Ashley and Okuku Rivers. It is 60 km northwest of Christchurch by road, reached either through Rangiora and Lobum or Oxford and the Ashley Gorge. It is about 31 km from Rangiora and 23 km from Oxford. The forest is managed principally for soil and water conservation. Twothirds of the 12,700 ha forest (soon to be increased by 175 ha with the inclusion of the Ashley Gorge Reserve) is mountain beech protection forest. Of the area added in 1971, 1300 ha have been planted with exotic species for soil protection and timber production. Other management objectives include recreation, education and the protection of plant and animal life. Streams on the south-east faces of Mount Thomas have cut deeply through the geologically young, unstable country, forming steep-sided gullies. Flooding and erosion have been slowed by the planting of protective vegetation as part of the management practices within the forest, carried out in consultation with the North Canterbury Catchment Board. These measures, however, have not been successful in stopping spectacular periodic debris flows because of the advanced nature of the erosion, the steepness of the gully walls and the shattered bedrock. Mount Thomas was originally farmed in 1845 by J. C. Boys, who held the first pastoral lease issued by the

Canterbury Provincial Government for the district. Successive landowners, through their practice of burning and grazing, caused the bush edge to retreat, and to be replaced by grassland and fem. Destruction of large areas of forest was so rapid that in 1881, 4550 hectares were permanently reserved by the Government to preserve the timber resource. Milling operations ceased about 1900, and later logging applications were refused on the grounds that the forest should be managed for the protection of water catchments. Vegetation Most of the area is covered with beech forest and grassland, with some exotic species planted on the front faces of Mount Thomas and adjoining terraces. Mountain beech (Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides) is the dominant native species at all levels within the forest. Hardwoods and shrubs, such as marbleleaf, broadleaf and smallleaved Coprosma, are common where openings have been made in the beech canopy by snow damage and windthrow. Groups of rimu, miro, matai and kahikatea can be seen emerging through the beech canopy at low to moderate altitudes, with scattered totara on higher, well-drained ridges. These podocarps are remnants of a forest which once extended as far as Woodend, 32 kilometres to the east. The dominant species of the grasslands are fescue and snow tussock, with scat-

tered shrubs of Dracophyllum, Casslnia, Hebe and Coprosma. Since the burning and grazing ceased, there has been marked regeneration of this plant cover.

There are about 1300 ha established in exotic trees, with Radiata pine (Pinus radiata) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) being the main species planted for production proposes on stable faces and terraces. Corsican pine (P. nigra var. lariclo) and Bishop pine (P. muricata), which can survive in harsh conditions above 650 m, are the principal species grown to protect areas susceptible to erosion. Some small areas of larch have been planted to enhance the landscape. Many native and introduced birds are found in the forest. The most common bushdwelling birds are the bellbird, fantail, blackbird, tomtit, grey warbler and New Zealand pigeon, as well as the nocturnal morepork. Above the forest the harrier and the New Zealand falcon may be seen hunting over the tussock grassland. Picnicking, Camping Thomas Bush Picnic Area, situated 400 metres from the forest headquarters on Hayland Road, has tables, fireplaces and toilet facilities for picnickers and tent campers. This was originally the site of a homestead built in the early 1900 s when the area was farmed. Some fruit and nut trees and an old stone wall are all that remain today. The Glentui Picnic Area, at the start of the Richardson Track, is another peaceful setting for picnicking.