Events Programme - June 2024
4th June - Wanderers’ walk.
Meet at the Bellringer Pavilion at 10:30.
Tony Burrell and Alan Metcalfe will take us on a walk over to the cricket practice net and up the path through the Thomas Horton native plantings, from the 1930’s, to Fort Herbert. The official history indicates the fort actual location is uncertain but Alan has pinpointed the location and has some interesting historical facts that his research has uncovered. We will then continue through to Rogen Street plantings. The walk will also talk about some shade loving plants that we will see along the route.
18th June - Wanderers’ walk.
Meet at Brooklands Zoo car park at 10.30.
We will take a loop walk through Maranui Gully.
20th June - Committee meeting
27th June - Evening Meeting
Citizens Advice Bureau, next to the Y.M.C.A. - 7pm.
Special General Meeting re Constitution change. Followed by
Thursday's speaker - Mieke Verschoor
Mieke will tell us about the developments at the Envirohub that she and Sustainable Taranaki are making, creating a demonstration garden showing ways of composting and worm farming. The NPDC is supporting these programmes to assist with reducing waste to land-fills, and encouraging sustainability.
Camellia sasanqua 'Early Pearly'
In Flower, next to the short diagonal path between Horton Walk and Claffey Walk 30m from the Rogan Street Entrance
Review of May's Events
Wanderers' Walk, May 7, 2024
Lead - Elise Smith
Tuesday's walk (7th May, 18 participants plus one dog) was led by Elise Smith, the focus was to be on birds in general as it was Global Bird week, however, Elise felt that bird food would be a better subject as birds could be in short supply! - and she was quite correct.
An interesting fact - the little shags, the kowhai trees around fountain lake, are apparently the only place they breed and nest in Taranaki.
Abutilon (Chinese Lanterns) - feeds nectar eating birds, such as Kereru, waxeye & sparrows. There used to be more in the Park.
The Kereru also likes kowhai, pseudopanax and coprosma as do the silvereyes and tui. We looked at the striking variegated parapara 'Bird-catching tree', which does not yet have sticky seed pods, but has been known to entangle birds looking for insects, so many gardens prune the seed heads.
The himalayan strawberry trees (Cornus capitata)of which there are several in the Park, present a banquet for many birds at this time of year.
A mention was made of the pukeko residing near the Bowl of Brooklands, they are being drawn up the hill to the Enviro Hub (next to Brooklands Zoo), a thought is the attraction of the Enviro Hub veg gardens, and the strawberry tree!
Wanderers' Walk, May 21, 2024
Lead - Sheryl Clyma
We were a small group but a happy group to be a part of the learning experience for propagating plants. Being inside was a bonus as the weather was a little unsettled.
Sheryl and her team split us into two groups and we headed into the park to cut suitable cuttings for propagating into pots. After our cutting exercise we headed into the fernery to plant into pots.
Once again this was a learning curve and we all enjoyed ourselves very much. Some had a better outcome than others, so I'm hoping mine aren't the ones that don't survive.
The plant sales is a big part of our income for the year so all potted plants are a special, and we all need to get potting now.
Thank you Sheryl and your team for always making time for us and sharing your knowledge with us. Always a pleasure and very much appreciated by us all. Maureen McDonald
Evening Meeting, May 23, 2024
Speaker - Alan Metcalfe
What an absorbing presentation! Alan Metcalfe has studiously researched all he can find about the history of Pukekura Park and has launched his own website on the subject.
The information is organised into many different areas such as Prominent People, Trees map, Timeline of events, Botanical sketches and so the list goes on…..In each section there are hundreds of relevant newspaper articles , drawings and whatever data Alan can lay his hands on.
We explored a few of the topics as a group and I have no doubt we’ll all be following up in our own time.
Please check out his site https://www.pukekura-history.co.nz/
Member's Photos
Brooklands Zoo
Wildlife Rehabilitation at Brooklands Zoo
by Eve Cozzi – Brooklands Zoo Lead
While Brooklands Zoo is a small facility, we care for a wide range of native and exotic species. In our commitment to conservation of wildlife, we have partnered with our local Department of Conservation (DOC) and New Plymouth Vet Group to rehabilitate injured and orphaned native birds when needed. Recently we’ve cared for several kererū, tūi, ruru / morepork and even a shining cuckoo to ready them for release back to their native wild habitat.
One of our most high-profile bird cases was last year when we assisted DOC by rehabilitating two weka that were mysteriously found in Manaia. Weka had not been sighted in the North Island of New Zealand since the 1930s, and DNA confirmed that these flightless birds originated from the upper South Island. To read more about this mystery, click here.
This shining cuckoo first spent some time under the careful care of the NP Vet Group and then required larger outdoor aviary space at Brooklands Zoo to gain some flying strength after being found on the ground with a head injury.
Farewelling the weka pre-transfer back to the South Island - Ngāruahine representatives along with Department of Conservation and Brooklands Zoo staff.
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Our mailing address is:
Friends of Pukekura Park
PO BOX 484
New Plymouth, Taranaki 4340
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