Otumoetai School Native Bush

Forest and Bird, Issue 88, 1 May 1948, Page 12

Otumoetai School Native Bush

By

ELSIE M. T. THORPE.

THE idea of planting a tree to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of their Majesties, King George V and Queen Mary, was the start of our now-flourishing native tree plantation. The rimu in the picture was a foot in height when planted on Arbor Day 1935 and has flourished as the koromikos, houhere (lacebark), and poroporo made quick-growing shelter for it. Some trees were propagated from seeds, some from hardwood cuttings, and some were young seedlings transplanted from the bush. Two kauris, a titoki, and a miro were presented by well-wishers for Arbor Day ceremonies. Kahikatea, puriri, totara, pohutukawa, hinau and ngaio now are growing well among the erstwhile shelter trees, makomako (wineberry), whau, kotukutuku (fuchsia), whauwhaupaku, rangiora, tarata, karamu and kowhai. So now, what was once the horse paddock, of approximately three chains by one chain, is a sylvan glade to delight our hearts, eyes and ears, be-

cause our feathered friends, tuis, fantails, silvereyes, riroriros, all frequent the bush that has through the years grown into a suitable home for them. You can realise how first-hand .knowledge , is _ gleaned to make our nature study a pleasing and easy lesson. I frequently obey the urge, in answer to the tui’s entrancing call, to leave indoor lessons and take the classes out to watch the far--timid honeyeaters enjoying themselves in the kowhais. Besides having many ferns now as undergrowth in the arborteum, we have some straw and maroon coloured native hibiscus to give gay relief. x , The many seedlings which grow are distributed to pupils for a nucleus of individual native plantations at their homes. I feel assured that pupils of Otumoetai School, being able to at least recognise so many of our native trees, will always appreciate and enjoy their heritage.