Summit Tree Planting

Trust and Forest & Bird members planting trees at Summit, 7 November 2004. Photo: Hugh McCracken.

The Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust was granted permission by Greater Wellington, the Regional Council to plant native trees at Summit on Sunday 7th November 2004. The trees had been sourced from the Upper Hutt branch of Forest and Bird, and is the first of many efforts the Trust wishes to facilitate to contribute to the reinstatement of the natural environment at Summit (and the route in general).

Selection of plot

Regional Council Forest Ranger Dean Hearfield escorted members of both groups in to Summit from the Rimutaka Hill Road (State Highway 2) via forestry roads. A large area of land downhill of the former railway yard has been set aside at Summit for revegetation following the last harvest of Pinus radiata in 2002. The Council has been landscaping and replanting the area following a development plan, part of which is included below.

Part of the Summit development plan, the Trust's 7 November 2004 planting plot indicated with a red cross. Roll-over hot spots have been included to provide additional information on key features.

Species planted included the following:

• Podocarpus totara (Totara)
• Dacrydium cupressinum (Rimu)
• Kunzea ericoides (Kanuka)
• toitoi

Over one hundred seedlings were planted in a relatively sheltered plot below the original railway embankment that was used from 1878 - c.1903.

Forest Ranger Dean Hearfield and Trustee Glenn Fitzgerald discussing the suitability of planting plots. The 1878 - c.1903 railway embankment can be seen in the background. Photo: Hugh McCracken.

Late in planting season

November is a little late in the planting season, but thankfully the planting plot was reasonably damp under foot - which ought to provide some relief to the transplanted seedlings in the Summer months. Seedlings previously planted at Summit have been treated to a layer of bark mulch to maintain soil moisture.

Members of the Upper Hutt branch of Forest & Bird and the Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust planting native tree seedlings, former Summit railway yards and Rochfort Pass in the background. Photo: Hugh McCracken.

After planting over one hundred native tree seedlings, volunteers take a well-earned break for lunch. Photo: Hugh McCracken.

Its not all hard work!

7th November turned out to be one of the most pleasant days Summit could provide for the volunteers, with hardly a breath of wind, and few clouds.

Over lunch discussions centred on the former railway days at Summit, aided by a folder of heritage photographs, and of the future - the possibility of steam-hauled heritage train services arriving from Kaitoke, Upper Hutt, and Wellington to a destination featuring a reinstated environment as well as a reinstated railway station precinct.

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