Nestled near the top of Harbour Cone, the very nature of its inaccessibility has proved to be its saving grace from the sweeping hand of settler cultivation.
Now the site has been further protected for future generations by the installation of a new fence.
The area, informally called Rutherford’s Bush, is part of the 328ha property owned by the Dunedin City Council and managed by the Hereweka Harbour Cone Management Trust.
Trust member Moira Parker said parts of the land were rented to a local farmer for grazing sheep.
The new fence would ensure livestock did not enter to feed on small seedlings, ensuring long-term protection for native bush and tree regrowth..
The nature of the site was likely to have been why some native trees survived.
"It is a piece of bush that the early settlers obviously didn't feel it was worth clearing because it is very steep," Ms Parker said.
At the time of early colonial settlement, there were about 14farmsteads on the Hereweka Harbour Cone block, Ms Parker said.
The site was dotted with walking tracks, and items of interest to see included settler stone fences, ruins of some of the farm houses, and spectacular views out to sea and across the harbour .
The forest area was a short walk from Highcliff Rd, between Pukehiki and Portobello, Ms Parker said.
The 1000-metre fence was installed by All Fencing Solutions and cost just under $38,000.
The work was part funded by a grant from the Otago Regional Council ECO fund.
