EDITORIAL

The Home Bay Forest is now up to 25 years old. The original Home Bay farm paddocks (P14 and P63) planted between 1994 and 2005, are a success story with native vegetation covering most of these two paddocks that were retired from grazing. There are virtually no areas of kikuyu grass apart from down on the valley floor (wetland) where it will be shaded out over time. In the wetland areas there are lots of kahikatea slowly maturing along with some swamp maire and pukatea, all future giants of the forest.

As well as the wetland trees, there are sizeable puriri, pohutukawa and rewarewa poking their way up through the pioneer canopy which was planted all those years ago. In addition there is a great deal of natural regeneration of native plants including kawakawa as quite dense thickets in places and several species of native ferns which have introduced themselves. Amazingly the native bush does not look like it has been planted!

There is an easy walking track which showcases the rapidly maturing Home Bay Forest. The track was funded by the Rotary Club of Newmarket in 2005 to mark the Centenary of Rotary International. When enjoying this easy bush walk lined with quite big trees one is sure to be enchanted by native birdsong. It is now home to a number of bird species including bell bird, kakariki, saddleback, tui, fantail, grey warbler, brown quail and silver eye. Occasionally a ruru (morepork) or two are seen in the day time and the odd whitehead makes an appearance. Kiwi also live in this habitat but are only seen or heard at night. A harrier hawk can often be observed flying overhead looking for prey. Kingfisher are common on the edges and sometimes takahe are seen on the fringes of the forest.

Weeds, which were once a major problem in these original two paddocks, are now much fewer thanks to the dedication of volunteers who have dealt with the infestations of moth plant and woolly nightshade. Gone is the perimeter of sizeable, prickly, apple of Sodom plants once again thanks to determined volunteers. Although the forest is thriving and relatively free of most weeds, moth plant and rhamnus still need to be searched for and removed regularly. Weeds, like rust, never sleep!

This area, once grazed paddocks, is now home to hundreds of native birds and other wildlife.