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The House I Stay at in Palmerston NorthKeeble's Bush
This is the best remaining remnant of the lowland forest that used to cover this area. Because it is so rare and precious and small it is closed to the public and you can only see it by appointment.
Because I am the Visiting Literary Artist at Massey I got an appointment, with some difficulty, and had a fascinating guided tour by a botanist. She was very passionate and knowledgeable and gave me so much material, I know I will get, as she suggested, at least one haiku out of the experience.
She suggested that the reason it was never logged was that there was a small spring in the middle of it. Even if the stream that flowed in at one end was dry, a stream always flowed out of the other end - so there must be a spring in it.
It is very beautiful and precious. And also hard to find. I had to get onto some knowledgeable locals to get me permission, to even find out who gave permission, and then we had to be met and shown where it was.
