The Rameka Open Day consisted of two parts – an eco survey in the morning followed by track building.

Over 100 species were counted on the property, with the greatest biodiversity down in the valley, within 50 metres of Rameka Creek (including some really interesting looking snail shells but no snails).

The survey was conducted by Karyn, Karen, Bronnie, Jonathan, Matt, Seamus, Garry and Barb. We weren’t sure of everything we found in the survey, so there is still some work to be done.

The eco survey results from May are entered below.

Project Rameka – Eco Survey

3 May 2008 F = Valley Floor (within 50 metres of the ford) T = Top (above 400 metres elevation)

Native Plants (T)

Native Trees and Shrubs Ake ake Karamu (Cop. Robusta) Kanuka Kaikomako Mahoe Marbleleaf (putaputaweta) Totara Wineberry Ongaonga (stinging nettle) Native passion vine Native bidibid Divaricating shrub (three types, possibly coprosma) Tussock (silver and brown) Bracken fern Lace fern (Paesia scaberula) punga

Introduced Plants (T)

Barberry (not Darwins) Californian thistle Fox glove (ditalis) Gorse Himalayan honeysuckle Pines (radiata) Spanish heather Sycamore Wild rose Woolly Mullein

Native Animals (T)

Small bird with yellow head (?) Kereru (wood pigeon) Fantail Tomtit Pippet Hawke Tui or bellbird (heard, not seen) Grasshopper (black with large head)

Introduced Animals (T)

Possum Pigs Yellow Admiral butterfly

Native Plants (F)

Coprosma grandifolia Coprosma (divaricating, small leaf) Coprosma propinqua? Hebe (koromiko?) Hoheria Kaikomako (duckfoot) Kamahi Kanuka Kawakawa Karamu (Cop. Robusta) Lancewood Lemonwood Mahoe Mapou Marbleleaf (putaputaweta) Oleria rani Pigeonwood Rangiora Red beech Seven finger (Pate) Totara Tree fuchsia Tutu Wineberry Ongaonga (tree nettle) Poroporo Native passion vine Native bidibid Silver tussock Brown tussock Green rush Asplenium flaccidum Asplenium (species?) Asplenium oblongifolium Black tree fern (Cyathea medullaris) Bracken fern Blechnum capense? Button fern (pelleae rotundifolia) Hounds tongue fern Lace fern (Paesia scaberula) Fern (Blechnum novae-zelandiae) Pigfern (Pteris tremula or macilenta) Pyrosia serpens (climbing fern) Sheildfern (Polystichum richardii or vestitum) Tree fern (Dicksonia squarrose or fibrosa) Rata vine (Meterosideros diffusa) Bushlawyer (Rubus parvus or schmidelioides) Muehlenbeckia australis Astelia Gaultheria (probably antipoda) Lycopodium Snowberry (Gaultheria) Orchid (one dark green leaf) Green moss Lichen (grey white) Shaggy inkcap fungus

Introduced Plants (F)

Amaranth Barberry (not Darwins) Black nightshade Blackberry Buddleia Californian thistle Canadian flea bane Cape gooseberry Dock Fennel Fox glove (ditalis) Geranium (fernlike leaf) Gorse Groundsel Himalayan honeysuckle Hypericum Pines (radiata) Ragwort Rye grass Scarlet pimpernel Scotch thistle Spanish heather Sycamore Wild rose Willow weed (Pylygonum) Woolly Mullein Yarrow

Native Animals (F)

Snail shell (brown, 40-50mm across)

Introduced Animals (F)