My Favourite Walk
Rotokawa Scenic Reserve -
now a predator free area
R
otokare Scenic Reserve is a community led project, a stunning 230 hectare forested hill country catchment, including extensive wetlands and a 17.8 ha natural lake. The mature tawa, rewarewa and mahoe dominated forest is home to kiwi, tui, bellbird, kereru, grey warbler and North Island robin plus many other species. The lake edge habitat consists of raupo, flax and pukatea/kahikatea swamp forest-home to notable fauna such as fernbird, spotless crake, also eels and banded kokopu in the streams and lakes.
Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust was formed in 2004 by a group of locals concerned that the habitat was in a state of decline. Members of the public became involved as volunteers and sponsors of an intensive pest and trapping programme. This was highly successful in eradicating well over 4,000 pests. A specially designed predatorproof fence now circles the 8.2 reserve perimeter acting as a barrier to pests immigrating from surrounding farmland. The fence is designed to keep out all species from cats and possums, to rats and baby mice. It is the largest fenced natural
14 Walking New Zealand, issue no 280 - 2021
By Judy Eva
wetland in New Zealand. It offers an exciting environmental education programme to schools, an interactive space with museum type displays and other resources including outdoor environmental experiences by an experienced educator. It is now a community led sanctuary project. The environment now free of exotic predators is allowing vegetaAbove: Predator free gate into sanctuary. Below left: Display along the track of different types of predator traps used.. Below right: Pontoon viewing platform.
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