Community support for the reserve goes back nearly a century and many that live here today can remember planting the original exotic forests that cover much of the land.

We also have historical records of Birds and plants seen by early European settlers around the Greta/Scargill area - they used to be here and we want most of them back. This is by no means a comprehensive list of species that were around back then. This is just what we found in local archives.

Birds – Sparrowhawk New Zealand Falcon**, native ground lark, blue mountain duck, weka (vanished 1918/1919), pukeko (were all shot by duck shooters) and tui.

** It’s interesting to note that the historical record refers to the Sparrowhawk rather than what was much more likely to have been the NZ Falcon. Some British dood may have misidentified the bird (The Eurasian sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus - common in the Isles) as there are not and never have been any Sparrowhawks in Aotearoa - as far as we know. So, if you are hoping to see one of those any time soon, we suggest you get on a plane - not.

Plants – totara, matai, kowhai, beech, matipo, koromiko, manuka, toitoi, flax, cabbage trees, Hieracium pilosella***, muehlenbeckia astonii (tororaro), coprosma rugosa (karamū), coprosma virescens (mingimingi).

*** So, this is the weed that’s causing so much damage in McKenzie country. And although it’s very interesting that it was spotted back then, it’s also good to know that it does seem to have been eradicated in our district. This plant is a European import, an exotic and an invasive weed. We do not want this one back!

We have set aside this page to allow the Community to share their stories and photos of times gone by. We can help you put together a short article, and help select any photos you’d like to share.