Forest Description( Including Past Use ):

 

Red-silver beech forest, described as type B6 Hill Country Beech Forest in the National Forest Survey. The upper canopy of tall forest measures 33-38 meters in height. Crown closure 80% ( 70-90%) with signs of some crown breakage from exceptional winter snowfall in August 1995.

 

The steepland beech forest on the property is typical for the Murchison/Maruia region. It is dominated by red beech ( Nothofagus fusca ) with 60% or more by volume and has a high co and subdominant component of silver beech ( Nothofagus menziessi ) that attains 40% by volume. On drier ridge sites mountain beech ( N. solandri var cliffortioides) comes in locally quite strongly with some scattering of hard beech (N. truncate). Totara ( Podocarpus halii) also has a minor sub-canopy presence together with other hardwood species as listed in Appendix 1. The basal area of trees over 10cm in diameter (dbh) in the well stocked forest average 49m².

 

The forest is healthy with intact canopy and good size class distribution of all the main tree species. There is excellent recruitment of pole and sapling sizes and ample regeneration where natural canopy gaps encourage its initiation. Crown fern ( Blechnum discolor) is scattered, but though locally dense it is not a problem for regeneration. The forest has a relatively sparse shrub understorey, typical for this tpe of beech forest. The woody species are listed in Appendix 1.

 

Past forest burning early this century led to temporary grazing on the northern and western boundaries that subsequently reverted dominantly to bracken, Spanish heath and Himalayan honeysuckle. The northern areas bordering the Matakitaki Road were planted in winters of 1985/86 with radiata pine. The remnant natural forest gullies and at the toe of the Bluff Beech Block adjoining the public road have been cutover in the past for their podocarp tree component. The few isolated and remaining non-merchantable kahikatea and matai on 1.22 ha of roadside forest was set aside and protected for ecological reasons by the previous owners and this goal is honored by the current owners. Where possible, further propagation of these species will be undertaken.

 

Soils/Ecology

 

Geologically the area is described as “rock and colluvium from calcerous sandstones and siltstones of the Mangles Formation”. The soils on the whole property appear to be type MH ( 1971 Soil Bureau Waimea Interim Soil Map – Sheet 5 ), ie: Matiri Hills Soils ( now included in the Inangahua Hill Soils). These are yellow-brown earths, well drained brownish-yellow heavy silt loam subsoils over consolidated muddy sandstone or siltstone. Soils are very acid and relatively nutrient poor. Erosion potential is moderate. A soft blue mudstone bluff on the NW corner is prone to regular slipping and will best be permanently maintained in forest to reduce risk of erosion.

 

Rainfall

 

1836 mm/annum from nearest data down valley ( Murchison ) typicall fluctuating between dry and wet seasons of 1437mm ( 1993 ) to 2129mm ( 1995).

 

A high rainfall mountain climate, but relatively mild and humid with moderate winds. Frosts occur in winter and periodic heavy snowfalls damage tree crowns in the natural beech forest ( eg in August 1995 ).