Fensham Reserve
| Fensham Reserve | |
|---|---|
| John Fensham Memorial Sanctuary | |
 Kahikatea in Fensham Reserve | |
 | |
| Location | Wairaraparegion, New Zealand |
| Nearest town | Carterton |
| Coordinates | 40°59′45″S175°30′26″E/ 40.99583°S 175.50722°E |
| Area | 48 hectares (120 acres) |
| Established | 1957 |
| Operated by | Forest & Bird |
| Website | www |
Fensham Reserveis a protected native forest remnant in theWairaraparegion of theNorth Islandof New Zealand, located north-west ofCarterton.The area of the reserve is 48 ha (120 acres), comprised mostly of primary forest, with 19 ha (47 acres) of regenerating forest and 3 ha (7.4 acres) of wetlands.[1][2][3]: 2
History
[edit]The land that is now the reserve was purchased by John Fensham in 1883, with the specific intention of preserving the forest. His daughter Ruby Fensham gifted the land to theRoyal Forest and Bird Protection Societyin 1957, and the title was finally settled on her death in 1978.[4]
In 2001, the area of the Fensham Reserve was declared by Government as protected private land, under the scenic reserves section of theReserves Act 1977.[5]
In 2024, the Forest & Bird group of volunteers that looks after the Fensham Reserve made a proposal toCarterton District Councilto allocate land associated with the defunct Belvedere Hall as the beginnings of awildlife corridorbetween Fensham Reserve and the nearbyTararua Forest Park.The proposal cited concerns over the decline inbiodiversityin the reserve because of its isolation in the middle of farmland.[6]
Biodiversity
[edit]The forest in the reserve is mainlyblack beech,with small areas of forest types that are regionally threatened in theWellington Region,includingkahikatea–pukateaforest, andtōtara–tītokiforest.[3]: 3–4 Swamp forest in the reserve includes kahikatea and other podocarps that may be 700 years old. The area of regenerating forest includes black beech, tōtara andmānuka.[4]
The area of the Fensham Reserve makes up the majority of the Fensham Key Native Ecosystem (KNE) – a region defined by theWellington Regional Councilin the catchment of theMangatarere Streameast of theTararua Ranges.[3]: 2 Land within the KNE is classified in the two highest categories of threatened ecosystems, meaning that there is less than 10-20% of original indigenous vegetation remaining on these types of land in New Zealand.[3]: 3
Native birds seen in the reserve includekererū,bellbird,tūī,kākā,grey warbler,fantailandkingfisher.[4][7]An endangered freshwater fish, thebrown mudfish(Neochanna apoda) is found in the wetland. Protected wetlands such as Fensham have high conservation value for the mudfish because it is highly threatened in other locations.[8][9]
Water race
[edit]A water supply race known as the Carrington Water Race passes through the reserve. It was established over a hundred years ago, sourcing water from the Mangatarere Stream to provide freshwater for irrigation, livestock, and domestic use.[10]
Access
[edit]The reserve is located around 4.7 km (2.9 mi) from Carterton, and is open to the public. There is a loop track through the reserve plus two cross-tracks, with boardwalks over wet areas.[7][11]
Awards
[edit]In 2002, the Forest & Bird Fensham group that looks after the reserve was recognised with an award for outstanding contributions to conservation.[12]
Gallery
[edit]- Fensham Reserve
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Circuit track -
Earina autumnalisinflorescence on forest floor -
Forest scene -
Forest track -
View from the lookout
References
[edit]- ^"Destination Wairarapa: it's got it all".Dominion Post.6 February 2019. p. 11.ProQuest2175929472.
- ^"Fensham Reserve, Carterton".Forest & Bird.9 May 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 19 May 2024.Retrieved25 September2024.
- ^abcdKey Native Ecosystem Plan for Fensham: 2018-2021(PDF).Greater Wellington Regional Council.August 2019.Archived(PDF)from the original on 12 July 2024.Retrieved25 September2024.
- ^abcPedersen, Erik (2021). "Leaving a legacy".Forest & Bird(382): 53.
- ^"Declaration That Private Land be Protected Private Land".New Zealand Gazette(8): 175. 25 January 2001.
- ^Ireland, Emily (24 September 2024)."Nature corridor proposed to boost biodiversity".The Post.Archivedfrom the original on 26 September 2024.Retrieved25 September2024.
- ^abEva, Judy (September 2020)."John Fensham Memorial Sanctuary - a lowland forest walk".Walking New Zealand(270): 12–13.Archivedfrom the original on 27 February 2023.Retrieved25 September2024.
- ^O’Brien, Leanne K.; Dunn, Nicholas R. (August 2007)."Mudfish (Neochanna Galaxiidae) literature review"(PDF).Science for Conservation(277).Department of Conservation.Archived(PDF)from the original on 26 September 2024.Retrieved25 September2024.
- ^Fensham Group; Dixon, Melanie (April 2004).Fensham wetland monitoring guidelines(PDF).Greater Wellington Regional Council.Archived(PDF)from the original on 10 March 2023.Retrieved25 September2024.
- ^Rados, Dimitrios; Keenan, Laura (10 October 2023).Carrington Water Race: Natural and artificial water race segments' assessment(PDF).Traverse Environmental.Archived(PDF)from the original on 20 July 2024.Retrieved25 September2024– viaGreater Wellington Regional Council.
- ^"Fensham Reserve Bush Walk".newzealand.Retrieved26 September2024.
- ^"Conservation awards".Dominion Post.9 August 2002.ProQuest337956559.
External links
[edit]
Media related toFensham Reserveat Wikimedia Commons