Guided Walk Through Halls Reserve

Thames/Hauraki Branch of Forest and Bird Society present a guided walk through Halls Reserve, New Zealand’s oldest arboretum, by Graeme Platt, a nationally known botanist.

In the past year community support for the restoration of Hall’s Reserve has continued. It may be recalled that Hall’s is the oldest arboretum in NZ. It comprises native and exotic trees selected by William Hall and planted by him around 1873. About 182 of these have survived.

Recent Council initiatives have led to the construction of walking tracks, that takes one among the massive trunks of threes in the lower part of the Reserve. Thames schools have helped in making additional plantings. Forest and Bird Society are helping to counter the invasion of wild asparagus into the 9ha Reserve. This will need to be continued through 2012. The design of the restoration has been prepared by arboriculturists John Wakeling and Chris Muller, with help too from dendrologist Graeme Platt of Silverdale.

The public are invited to look at progress so far by joining in a walk through the arboretum. Graeme will lead this walk and tell of the significant of Hall’s botanical work for the community.

The group will meet in Currie Street (off Mount Sea Road) at 9am, on Saturday 10 March.
The walk is free, but donations are appreciated.
Contact Ken Clark 868 8307

This is an official event of Thames Heritage Week.