Events Programme - July 2024
2nd July - Wanderers’ walk.
Meet at the Zoo Carpark at 10:30.
Visit Envirohub . We will be shown their progress on a demonstration garden showing ways of composting and worm farming and other developments.
If time allows a visit to the Arbor Day plantings from 1971 that created a nature trial native grove with many plants that are commonly found in Northland and the nearby offshore islands. This area is at the back of the zoo. You will see pennantia baylisiana which at the time was listed as the world’s rarest tree as only one female tree survived on Three Kings Island. A local expert plant propagator played a major role in the trees survival path and the tree located in the park is almost certainly his handywork.
10th July - Staff Lunch
at CAB rooms 12 midday
16th July - Wanderers’ walk.
No walk scheduled
18th July - Committee meeting
25th July - Evening Meeting
Citizens Advice Bureau, next to the Y.M.C.A. - 7pm.
Evening Speaker - Sue Matehaere Patten
Sue will will give a presentation on her recent trip to Japan, focussing on gardens she visited.
Kotukutuku -Tree fuchsia (Fuchsia excorticata)
In Flower, opposite the steps at the Goodwin Dell entrance.
Review of Junes's Events
Wanderers' Walk, June 4, 2024
Leads - Tony Burrell & Alan Metcalfe
20 of us joined this walk and we had joint leaders for this walk Tony led the way with the botanical aspects and specifically shade loving plants and the way they have adapted.
Alan told us about Fort Herbert, the location and history.
Once again, I, and I think I speak for the others, I was amazed by how much new information I gleaned.
Thank you both so much - Pam Murdoch
Wanderers' Walk, June 18, 2024
Lead - Tony Burrell
An intrepid group of 10 enjoyed the sunny but wet underfoot conditions and explored the Maranui Gully with Tony Burrell. After wandering through Brooklands Park, we visited the ancient puriri tree. An interesting tale I learned was that a fallen branch of the tree was fashioned into a walking stick in the early 1920s and taken to London. Thomas List, the then owner of the Daily News in New Plymouth was attending a press conference there and he presented it to Lord David Astor. This one of the many tales which surround this tree!
Thomas List, of course is whom List St in Welbourn is named after.
An abundance of Kohekohe flowers littered the ground throughout our walk, and we could easily see the flower fronds hanging from the tree trunks and branches. They have a distinctive scent too.
We studied the buttress root systems of the Pukatea and generally stopped to look at all types of specimens along the way.
A thoroughly interesting walk with coffee and more discussion at Baked on Carrington as the Tea House is temporarily closed.
Evening Meeting, May 23, 2024
Speaker - Mieke Verschoor
Our Thursday speaker this week was Mieke Verschoor. Mieke represented Sustainable Taranaki and spoke about their function and the role they play as part of the communal team at the Envirohub, located in the bungalow beside Brooklands Zoo.
Further explanation and a tour around the Envirohub will take place this Tuesday 2 July as part of our Wanderers’ Walk. I know those who heard Mieke will be keen to learn more – hope to see you there.
Member's Photos
Brooklands Zoo
Heritage breeds at Brooklands Zoo
by Jenny Bucksmith - Zoo Keeper
Brooklands Zoo is home to several heritage breed animals. The term heritage breed refers to farm animals or birds that are kept primarily to prevent the species from becoming extinct. Many of these traditional breeds date back to times before industrial agriculture and can possess characteristics that may be missing in common breeds today.
At Brooklands Zoo we have two Campbell Island ewes. This breed originated in the early 1900s after around 400 merino cross sheep were transported to Campbell Island, 600km south of Stewart Island/Rakiura. By the 1930s farming there was no longer profitable, and 4000 sheep were abandoned. Culling began in the 1970s, with only 10 individual animals brought back the mainland. The descendants of these 10 sheep can now only be found on two farms: one in Canterbury, and Avonstour Island in South Taranaki. Avonstour have kindly leant us Tomato and her lamb, Balsamic, so we can promote their heritage status.
Tomato and her lamb, Balsamic
Campbell Island sheep evolved to have sturdy feet to cope with the high levels of rainfall, making them resistant to foot rot. They are also resistant to some common parasites. With only around 40 ewes in existence today, these sheep are one of the rarest sheep breeds in the world.
The zoo’s farmyard is also home to Heketora and Kahu, two kune kune piglets. Kune kune pigs are thought to descend from Asian pigs and were introduced to New Zealand in the early 1800s. They were largely raised by Māori communities and remain important to them today. Smaller than most pig breeds, their coarse hair comes in a variety of colours and patterns. Kune kune means plump or round. In the late 1970s it was estimated that there were only about 50 purebred kune kune left in New Zealand. From purebred base stock of only six sows and three boars in 1978, kune kune now number in the thousands. Due to being placid and friendly they, are popular as pets in many countries.
Riki and Kahu
We also have three heritage breed chickens. Margaret is a Faverolles, an ancient French breed characterised by facial feathering called muffs and beard. Deirdre, our frizzled bantam, is easily identified by her pure white frizzled feathers. Selma is a Chinese silkie hen, a breed dating back thousands of years with atypically fluffy plumage and black skin.
Deidre and Margaret
Brooklands Zoo is proud to be able to share these important rare breeds with our visitors.
Brooklands Zoo News
by Kelly Green - Zoo Keeper:
Since April last year there’s been a new feathery kid on the block. A kārearea (NZ falcon) has taken up residence somewhere in the vicinity. Being an active hunter of small birds, initially this (we suspect young) falcon showed a lot of interest in the birds in the zoo’s free-flight aviary. It was amazing to watch it zip and dive just above the aviary, making a couple of loops across the roof before resting in the London plane at the back of the zoo.
It doesn’t hurt to have a predator bird in the area; in fact, it prompts natural behaviours among our animals: the meerkats might alarm bark and hide in their burrows, the cotton-top tamarins make their high-pitched warning call, and the squirrel monkeys go on high alert, just like they would in the wild. Natural stressors can be beneficial to social animals, reaffirming bonds and strengthening the group as they often need each others’ help to stay safe, whether it be by having more eyes to keep an eye out for danger and warn the group, or perhaps even to drive away a threat. As it turns out, the kārearea soon learned it couldn’t get to the parrots, and the parrots have learned they are safe, but it still can be seen occasionally passing over the zoo heading to and from … somewhere!
There is also a ‘resident’ kahu (Australasian swamp harrier) that can be seen, often cruising above The Gables. These are distinguishable from kārearea in a number of ways: kārearea are small by comparison, when in flight they have long pointed wings and a rectangular tail, and typically they are seen flying with a rapid wing beat. Their legs are short in relation to their body, unlike the long legs with feathery jodhpurs that harriers have!
Harriers are frequently seen on roads feasting on roadkill and sadly this often makes them victims too, while falcons do not typically scavenge. Harriers are often seen cruising lazily while they scan for prey, their wings forming a shallow ‘V’ shape.
With only about 8,000 kārearea in New Zealand (compared to tens of thousands of kahu), these native birds are significantly rarer than the North Island brown kiwi so it’s pretty special to see them so frequently in our pretty special park!
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