Regenerating Native Bush at Hinewai

 Hinewai Reserve, like most of Banks Peninsula, was deforested around 1900 for farming.  Hinewai Reserve was started in 1987 to bring back the native forest 'bush.'  Above can be seen the green of native bush starting to creep into the brown of old pastures.  To the right, the boundaries of Hinewai are starkly seen in the distance, corresponding to the green.  Hinewai ends where the green ends and the brown begins.

Above is a snapshot of succession.  Grassland in the initial stage is taken over by bracken fern.  Kanuka trees are the first trees to move in, preparing for others to follow.  Below, a mosaic of bush trees are starting to colonize the grassland at about 500 meters altitude.

Farmland is prone to infestations of Gorse.  Management at Hinewai has evolved to let the Gorse act as a nurse crop, through which native bush trees can seed, ultimately growing through.  Gorse is shade intolerant, so over time yields to regenerating native bush.  Immediately below can be seen a path cut through huge stands of gorse on the left.  Native tree seedlings are taking hold to the right of the path. 

 In this last photo 'Fern Gully' shows regenerating trees on the march covering a steep slope and ravine.  Just a wee bit of the brown former grazing land can be seen on the upper right.