Woodland alive with colours of spring

Oromahoe 4-year-old Aurora Payne enjoys the bluebells at Roland's Wood. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Lovers of spring flowers are in for a treat at Roland's Wood in Kerikeri.

The popular dog-walking park on Inlet Rd, about 2km east of town, is carpeted in bluebells. The magnolias are also in bloom and a few spring bulbs are putting in an appearance.

The 4ha "English beech woodland" was bequeathed to the people - and dogs - of Kerikeri by the late Roland Sansom in 2001.

The park is vested in the Far North District Council and administered by a trust. The Kerikeri Rotary Club, with help from the Friends of Roland, has maintained and developed the woodland since 2009. Rotarian John Horrell was presented with a council Citizen's Award last month, in part for his work at Roland's Wood.