Talbot Forest Working Group
Talbot Forest Working Group works co-operatively to protect and enhance Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve at Geraldine, in the South Island.
Aims of the group
- To provide information that contributes to the well-being of the forest
- To protect and enhance existing native vegetation remnants
- To establish appropriate bush linkages to Talbot Forest in order to provide wildlife corridors
- To perform a general advocacy role in order to achieve protection and enhancement of the natural environment in South Canterbury
- To educate the general public (and more particularly students) so that the community has a better understanding and appreciation of the natural environment and the threats to that environment.
Get involved
The Talbot Forest Working Group works with the Department of Conservation to enhance and protect Talbot Forest through weed control, revegatation, recreational usage, interpretation, education and advocating for wildlife corridors.
Contact
Gary Foster, Timaru District Council +64 3 684 8199
or Ines Stäger +64 3 693 9283
Would your school like to benefit from a Talbot Forest experience?
For more information contact: Ines Stäger
How it all began
The Talbot Forest Working Group first started in 1997 after a public meeting was called by Forest and Bird Soceity and the Geraldine Community Board. At this meeting, experts Dr Colin Meurk and Dr Peter Bellingham explained that Talbot Forest was too small to thrive without some intervention from the community. They also explained how it was important to establish corridors of native plants, external of the forest, to encourage wildlife movement into the forest.
Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve
Dr David Bellamy on a visit to Talbot
Forest, Geraldine
Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve, standing above Geraldine, is a well-used community asset enjoyed by locals and visitors to the town. It is a small remnant of extensive broadleaf/podocarp forests that once covered large areas of Canterbury. Talbot Forest is managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC).
Essentially, the forest is something of an 'island' sanctuary surrounded by farmland and extensively modified downlands. Many native insects, a diverse range of native birds and a small population of pekapeka - the long-tailed bat - are present in the reserve.
Only 24 ha, Talbot Forest is vulnerable to natural events such as drought or wind. Signs of damage to its canopy indicate that the forest has barely survived such difficult conditions in the past. As the canopy becomes sparser, the lower tiers of vegetation become more exposed to damage from snowfall.
Despite control operations to reduce predator numbers, animal pests such as rats, ferrets and possums also continue to threaten the native wildlife.
As Talbot Forest is located next to a large urban population, it is endangered by pest plants and garden "escapes" such as ash, sycamore, cherry, silver birch, old mans beard and rowan. Constant vigilance is required to protect our little forest from the dangers that threaten it.