Forest sanctuary
A Forest & Bird Project
The 89 hectare Bushy Park Tarapuruhi forest is a Forest & Bird Project. It is a rare example of North Island temperate lowland forest. Lowland forests such as Bushy Park historically harboured the largest and most diverse communities of native and endemic plants and animals. Bushy Park Tarapuruhi is unusual in that it survived (most lowland forest was clear felled) and it is relatively unmodified, i.e. there has been no logging or burning of the main forest. It was also fenced to exclude domestic livestock in the mid/early 1900s (White 2005).
Pest mammals, except for mice, were removed from the sanctuary in 2005 following the construction of a 4.8km XcluderTM pest fence and an eradication project. Therefore, the site has the strongest protection from introduced mammals that can currently be delivered on the mainland.
The forest itself is a broadleaf podocarp complex dominated by tawa (Beilschmiedia tawa) and pukatea (Laurelia novae-zelandiae) with emergent rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) and northern rātā (Metrosideros robusta). Around 160 species of plants have been recorded in the sanctuary (Butcher et al. 2018) and there is considerable structural diversity and complexity from the ground tier through to the sub-canopy and emergent canopy. See our online resources to get a plant list
This diverse forest, combined with a moderate climate, several small streams and protection from most mammalian predators and competitors, provides an outstanding environment for many native and endemic species. As an example, toutouwai/North Island robins were reintroduced to the sanctuary in 2001 and 2004. Initial productivity was low but current estimates suggest there are about 600 robins at Bushy Park Tarapuruhi, an incredible density for such a small area (F. Drummond and D.P. Armstrong, unpublished data). Similarly, North Island saddlebacks (Philesturnus rufusater) were reintroduced in 2006 with current estimates suggesting a population of about 700 birds (F. Drummond and D.P. Armstrong, unpublished data). Lizard species, including goldstripe (Woodworthia chrysosiretica) and forest geckos (Mokopirirakau granulatus) have persisted, as have at least two locally threatened plant species, green mistletoe (Ileostylus micranthus) and Pittosporum cornifolium (White 2005; Butcher et al. 2018). These are all indicators that Bushy Park Tarapuruhi is high quality habitat for a range of forest dwelling native and endemic species. See our online resources to get a full bird and snail list
Around 500 volunteer hours/month go into ensuring the continued protection of the sanctuary and care of the visitor tracks and facilities. This includes significant biosecurity work – monitoring and maintaining the Xcluder predator fences and traps to check for the continued exclusion of rats, possums, mustelids, hedgehogs, cats, dogs, and for the management of mice. There is also on-going work to manage and eliminate various weed species such as sycamore trees, banana passion fruit, ivy and chocolate vine.
Find out more about our engaging hands-on education experiences and guided tours here
