Mini-residents move in at Riccarton

DEAN KOZANIC/The Press

SUBURBAN WILDLIFE: A weta is released into Riccarton Bush, Christchurch, by the Department of Conservation.

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Weta have returned to Riccarton Bush, marking another chapter in the rejuvenation of the Christchurch native reserve.

Riccarton Bush is Canterbury's last remaining area of kahikatea floodplain forest, containing a stand of 600-year- old kahikatea trees that are the survivors of those that grew on the site 3000 years ago.

Native flora and fauna have flourished in the 6.35ha reserve, given to the people of Canterbury in 1914 and administered by the Riccarton Bush Trust, since a predator- proof fence was built around it four years ago.

Late last week, nine tree weta were released into the reserve by the Department of Conservation and the trust's Riccarton Bush ranger, John Moore.

Moore said the next step was to see if they were going to breed.

"They used to be in Riccarton Bush. We are waiting and watching to see what happens naturally," he said.

"Since we built our fence it took us about a year to get all the rodents out of there – the rats, mice and things. Now we are predator-free."

The tree weta came from Orton Bradley Park on Banks Peninsula and were widespread through the country, he said.

Riccarton Bush's native bird population was growing now predators had been excluded. Bellbirds were heard frequently and fantail numbers were rising.

There were also plans to reintroduce geckos and bird species such as tomtits and the rifleman, Moore said.

About 40 species of native plants were being considered for planting, including white- bush clematis, white rata and tree ferns.

"The aim of the trust is to restore Riccarton Bush to its former state. We are pretty well getting there. The bush has recovered remarkably in the last 30 years," Moore said.

- © Fairfax NZ News