Public tour historic native bush

People were able to learn the significance O'Connor's Bush, in Soldiers Memorial Park, Greytown, last weekend with guided tours of the native trees that have been a feature on the Greytown landscape since European settlement.

Friends of O'Connor's Bush invited the public to visit the stand of remnant virgin trees and learn a little history of their history on Saturday with an open day.

There were guided tours every hour, a sausage sizzle and activities for kids.

Convenor Katie Abbott said they had organised the day to let people know about the bush and its historical significance.

They had hoped for more people but were pleased with how the day went overall.

"The people that did come really enjoyed the guided walk," she said.

QEII National Trust Wairarapa representative Trevor Thompson conducted the guided tours and Mrs Abbott said he was very knowledgeable.

"People who had been through last time learnt even more."

Along with the tour people were also given information about Weedbusters - an organisation to protect New Zealand - and pest control in Wairarapa.

Mrs Abbott thanked Greytown Lions for their support with the sausage sizzle.

"It was a good day."

O'Connor's Bush takes its name from the settler who owned the land, Dan O'Connor, who in 1919 had decided to sell the milling rights to trees on his land.

In an last ditch effort to save some of the bush a public fundraising campaign was arranged and succeeded in getting enough money donated to save the trees that still stand today.

To get involved email: friendsofthebush@gmail.com