Gray's Bush re-opened
Date: 15 April 2009
The Department of Conservation (DOC) advises that car park construction at Gray's Bush Scenic Reserve near Gisborne is completed so people can now access the reserve. DOC Programme Manager, Jamie Quirk said today that the car park construction was part of a programme to upgrade the Scenic Reserve, with some work yet to be completed.
"We have improved access to the area, installed a wheelchair accessible track and re-designed the car park. We will also install new interpretation panels to provide information on the reserve," Mr Quirk said.
Gray's Bush Scenic Reserve is a small but highly significant remnant of the kahikatea forest that once covered the Poverty Bay flats. The presence of puriri in association with kahikatea is rare and the reserve contains well-preserved individual trees reaching heights of up to 40 metres. The majority of the taller kahikatea are from 400 to 500 years old.
Situated less than ten kilometres from Gisborne, Gray's Bush provides an opportunity for visitors to catch a glimpse of what local plains were like before land was cleared for farming and settlement.