The lava flows of the central Auckland isthmus were once cloaked in lava rock forest, a globally rare ecosystem with forest sprouting from volcanic boulderfields.
After centuries of burning by Māori and decades of urbanisation, only a few of the original 5000 hectares remain. The most significant remnants are found in Epsom, most on private property, with a publicly-accessible patch in Withiel Thomas Reserve, on Withiel Drive. Here, trees and shrubs including akapuka, kāraka, mangeao, tītoki, porokaiwhiri, māhoe and kawakawa, grow among jagged boulders created by the cooling of the original Mt Eden lava flow. King ferns too have made the area home and flourish in the virtually soil-free substrate, while overhead tūī, pīwakawaka, tauhou and kēreru forage in the canopy.
Thousands of people drive past this Significant Ecological Area (SEA) daily without realising what’s there. Because this ecosystem type is classified as ‘critically endangered’ we really need to understand, cherish and protect what we still have.
There’s a fascinating article on the forest in New Zealand Geographic in which author Jennifer Wilkins rightly refers to rock forest champion, Sel Arbuckle, as a “rock-forest legend”. Sel has been almost single-handedly controlling invasive weeds in these forest fragments for decades, with no pay and until recently, little recognition. Sel and STEPS maintain a small rock forest restoration project along the Roy Clements Treeway in Mt Albert and are working on a more extensive restoration further down the Waitītiko stream catchment, adjacent to Chamberlain Park golf course. A patch of regenerating rock forest can also be found tucked away in Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, providing an important stepping stone habitat for native birds between Maungawhau (Mt Eden) and Ōwairaka (Mt Albert).
If you’re interested in learning more about the species typically found in the rock forest ecosystem, consult botanist Ewen Cameron’s definitive 1999 article on this subject, which includes a species list compiled from historical research and personal observations.
Urban Ark Restoration Advisor, Phil Simpson, undertook a post-grad study on rock forest ecology in 2021 and is a passionate advocate for it’s protection. Phil often runs guided walks in the Epsom area, so keep an eye on the Urban Ark Events page and/or our Facebook page for forthcoming activities.