Wellington Field Trip - Saturday 21 November 2009

A warm, fine and sunny day greeted those on the Wellington field trip in November - yeah right, it was anything but, in the capital with low cloud, drizzle and a bit of a breeze.

But we propagators are a hardy bunch and so we all met at our first stop of the day the Wellington City Council nursery at Berhampore. It was good to see many familiar faces and some new ones which we'll hopefully see at future IPPS events. Jonathan Bussel, previously with the nursery, showed us around the nursery which produces around 100000 plants a year for revegetation projects around the Wellington region, civic plantings and for schools. Much of the native plants grown are eco-sourced from around the region.

The nursery also grows bedding plants for displays around Wellington, grown from plugs bought it. Apparently in a survey of ratepayers, displays of bedding plants is one of the most common things they want to see, despite the high cost compared to concrete or grass.

From Berhampore, it was down the road to Wellington's rugged south coast which was far from inviting on a day like we were there. So it was a rather short visit to observe the revegetation work in progress before we travelled in Convoy (without losing anyone!) to Otari.

Otari-Wilton's Bush

The day was cloaked in a veil of misty rain. Members and guests of the I.P.P.S got out of their convoy of cars to experience a small taste of New Zealand's largest collection of native plants. The weather eerily reminiscent of days of old only added to the overwhelming beauty that is Otari-Wilton's Bush.

Originally a dense podocarp broardleaf forest, Maori utilised the hunting opportunities it held, hence the name Otari which means 'Place of Snares.' Settlers arrived in the early 1800's and divided the land into 100acre blocks for farming. Sadly they did not appreciate the tropical looking bush, felled most of it and replanted the farms with more familiar trees such as, Pine and Oak.

Joseph Wilton, on the other hand, was taken aback by the natural beauty, so fenced off 17acres of the original forest and turned it into a reserve. When he passed away the reserve became the property of Wellington City Council, who have continued to nurture it for a hundred years.

The next person to have major involvement in Otari-Wilton's Bush was Dr. Leonard Cockayne. He lost his father and inherited a very large sum of money.

This enabled him to leave his job and delve into his passion for native plants.

Originally he suggested to the Wellington City Council that the Botanical Gardens be entirely made up of native plants. This idea was flatly rejected and then he heard about Otari-Wilton's Bush.
Instantly in love with the preserved native paradise, he produced a booklet about his vision for Otari-Wilton's Bush. Luckily the council approved his ideas and in 1926 the Otari Open Air Native Plant Museum was established. The idea behind it being to not only conserve the native forest but to cultivate plants from all over New Zealand, to educate people about native plants and to promote their use in horticulture.

From such passion and dedication to his vision, Dr. Cockayne's final wish was granted, he and his wife Maud are both buried on site.

Their legacy remains with over 1200 species of cultivars growing at Otari. There are plants ranging from as far south as the sub-antartic islands and as far north as the sub-tropical islands.
With such a massive amount to look at and such a short time, we were lucky enough to be guided around a small section by New Zealand very own David Attenborough, renowned botanist, John Dawson

We were lead through 'The Treasure Gully' by Mr. Dawson, who gleefully shared his knowledge with old school charm. He pointed out such visible rarities as a fully-grown tree fern, standing at 20metres. He also showed us an example of natural hybridisation between a large leafed offshore island tree (Pennantia baylisiana) and a small leafed mainland tree (Pennantia corymbosa). All the while offering different theories about plant evolution.

Our visit to Otari-Wiltons Bush was as evocative as it was informative.

Percy's Reserve Visit

The visit to the glasshouses and propagation area was a highlight of the day for many. Jill Broome, the Plant Collections Supervisor generously made her time available to show us some of her work and 'prized possessions'.

The reserve is well known for its conservation of rare and endangered New Zealand plant species, which include Chatham Islands and New Zealand alpine collections. This work began with the Percy family after whom the reserve is named. The family operated a flour mill on the site from the 1840s until 1939. Three sons of the colonist Joseph Percy were keen horticulturists and helped to preserve many native plant species. When the last son, Arthur, died in 1939, the Crown bought the land and vested it in the then Petone Borough Council. It was developed with the assistance of the New Zealand Native Plant Preservation Society and opened officially as a scenic reserve in 1949. It was expanded with the addition of Percy Gully Reserve in 1952. Today the reserve is vested in Hutt City Council.

Jill showed us around her plant collections that are nationally significant. The Celmisia collection in particular would possibly be the best in New Zealand, and is a credit to her propagation ability and dedication to her work. Many other rare plants were also on display. Everyone was amazed to see such hard-to-grow plants surviving well in a quite temperate climate. Jill puts this down to using clay pots and the particular site, which is exposed to the southerly wind.

From Percy's reserve, we headed over the hill to the bright lights of Wainuiomata and beyond to our final stop of the day at Moore's Valley Nursery, one of the Wellington region's leading nurseries who specialise in producing high quality and hardy plants at very reasonable prices.

Dave Fletcher, who took over the nursery in 1995, was on hand to greet us and explain what goes on at Moores Valley. They grow a wide range of trees and shrubs, perennials and buy in other lines such as seedlings and roses. Plants are grown in the display beds from where they will be sold. Most production is done here with the more tender lines grown at the nursery's second site near Levin. This was opened in 2006 and operates along the same lines as Wainuiomata. Dave has just finished renovating this site with the original site in line for major renovations including a new shop and shed. From Moores Valley, many of us headed back to Jonathan's place just up the road for a drink or two before heading home or back to our accommodation in Lower Hutt.

Thanks to Jonathan and also Phillip Smith for organising a great day despite the awful weather.

Coming Up

Done and dusted - news from the 2010 Conference - details here.

International Tour and Conference is in Eastern Region from 16 September

Spring field day plans are a work in progress

News

At the Blenheim conference Richard Ware was presented with the Award of Merit.

Peter Waugh was honored too - with the John Follet Award of Recognition.

New Japan / New Zealand Exchange.

IPPS Travel Scholarship details

Seven hours on the Tongariro Crossing Field Trip

An update on the McGredy Rose Garden

IPPS stands at the Nursery Trade Days

Liza Whalley reports on her IPPS Scholarship experience.

Wellington Field Trip - Saturday 21 November 2009

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