More than a hundred native plant species thrive here. Welcome to Barton’s Bush. This tranquil haven in Trentham Memorial Park is the largest remaining lowland mixed podocarp broadleaf forest in the Hutt Valley. Imagine the Hutt Valley before European settlement. Picture a landscape blanketed in lush native forest. Barton’s Bush offers a glimpse into that past.
Richard Barton a pioneering settler purchased 40 hectares of land in 1841. He envisioned a blend of farmland and preserved native bush. His estate stretched from Quinns Post to Silverstream. He wanted to maintain this area as it was.
His family’s legacy lives on in Barton’s Bush. Unfortunately Barton’s descendants began clearing the remaining bush by 1924. Concerned citizens rallied to save this precious remnant. Thanks to public support and funding they secured Barton’s Bush as a public reserve in 1950.
The purchase price was 26000 pounds. This equates to over 2020000 pounds in 2012 values. The money came from a war memorial subsidy public subscription and contributions from local councils.
Barton’s Bush wasn’t pristine when acquired. The 1940s saw logging activities. Over 100 totara trees were felled. The bush also suffered from invasive species. Since 1980 a dedicated restoration program has been underway. This program diligently removes pests such as Old Man’s Beard and Wandering Jew. Supplementary plantings support native flora.
Today Barton’s Bush is a carefully managed space. Gravelled paths guide visitors. Light fencing protects the undergrowth. You can stroll these paths and appreciate the diversity of native plants. Dominating the canopy are tawa trees along with totara matai and kahikatea. A wide range of understory plants completes the rich ecosystem. Barton’s Bush stands as a testament to the resilience of nature. It also serves as a reminder of a bygone era. It is a symbol of community efforts to preserve a piece of New Zealand’s natural heritage.