Peel Forest Park Scenic Reserve

The Peel Forest Park Scenic Reserve is a 769-hectare (1,900-acre)[2] forest reserve in the Canterbury region in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located near the Rangitata River and is in the foothills of the Southern Alps. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation as a scenic reserve, not a forest park.

Peel Forest Park Scenic Reserve
View of Big Mt. Peel from Little Mt. Peel
Peel Forest Park Scenic Reserve
LocationCanterbury, South Island, New Zealand
Nearest townGeraldine
Coordinates43°53′27″S 171°14′05″E[1]
Area768.6 ha (1,899 acres)
Established1909
Operated byDepartment of Conservation
WebsiteOfficial website

Etymology

The forest was named by Francis Jollie, who settled in the area in late 1853. Jollie had named the forest after Sir Robert Peel, the British Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who had died in 1850, the year that Canterbury was founded. The adjacent mountain and the nearby community of Peel Forest also took Peel's name.[3]

Flora and fauna

The Peel Forest is the remnant of a large Podocarpaceae forest. The three major tree types are the kahikatea (white pine), tōtara and matai (black pine). Logging reduced the forest to its current size.[4] For his lengthy botanical study of Mount Peel, Harry Allan was awarded a Doctor of Science in 1923.[5]

The forest is also home to many birds including kererū, fantail (pīwakawaka), and tomtit (miromiro).[4]

Activities

Tramping is a popular activity in the park. There are several short walks, tramps, and one longer route that leads to the summit of Little Mount Peel.[6]

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See also

References
  1. "Peel Forest Park Scenic Reserve". protectedplanet.net.
  2. "Data Table - Protected Areas - LINZ Data Service". Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  3. Reed, A. W. (2010). Peter Dowling (ed.). Place Names of New Zealand. Rosedale, North Shore: Raupo. p. 310. ISBN 9780143204107.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  4. "Features of Peel Forest Park". Doc.govt.nz. 2006-10-25. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
  5. Galbreath, Ross. "Harry Howard Barton Allan". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  6. "Activities in Peel Forest Park". Doc.govt.nz. 2006-10-25. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
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