Page 17 - Southwell School The Chronicle July

THE SOUTHWELL BUSH
TOUR VERY OWN TAONGA
he Southwell Bush, like Claudelands Bush or The Boardwalk through to the new sports pavilion is Jubilee Park, is a remnant of more than 300 ha a lovely break from the hustle and bustle of Southwell of native forest known as Claude’s Bush which daily life, particularly in summer. Since fencing the
existed when Hamilton was Founded in 1864. We are lucky to steward our 1.14ha slice of what remains today on site and many of you will have core memories of class visits, cross country races and lunchtime wanderings through this shady oasis.
Our treasured remaining Southwell Bush is made up of Kahikatea, Titoki, Matai, Tawa, Rewarewa and Potaka. Under this canopy you will find Turepo, Tawa, Silver Fern and Mahoe and at ground level our smaller pupils enjoy a beautiful covering of Kawakawa, native ferns, grasses and sedges, our bush floor is literally teeming with
all kinds of life, including the somewhat destructive 4 legged rodent variety.
The Southwell Enviro Group meets each Thursday under the watchful eye of Mrs Speedy; to check and reset the many traps placed throughout the bush, and also to monitor the new growth under the canopy. As it turns out, our traps are extremely effective and the group regularly documents the demise of those not so clever rodents. Thanks for your efforts team, the bush really
is thriving under your care.
most vulnerable areas off, we have witnessed the a big improvement in the ground level growth of many long forgotten species. We have also welcomed back a good number of native Owls. Can
you spot our reluctant star Morpork hiding up in the fern?
In recent years, varying
weather patterns have seen
a number of our larger trees
become stressed and begin
to die off so after a large
investigation into possible
solutions at Trust Board level a decision was made to install a bore to assist with the overall health of our beloved Bush. Comprehensive piping and a large sprinkler system are in place and we are excited to see the benefits of a well timed summer hydration programme into
the future.
When you are next passing by Southwell, we would love to welcome you back for a quick visit of this longstanding treasure.
Southwell Bush Kawakawa Balm
Made by our very own Mrs Speedy from our Kawakawa plants.