Dingle Dell

About

Dingle Dell Reserve is a nature reserve in the suburb of St Heliers in Auckland, New Zealand. It consists of 6.48 hectares of native bush and a small grass field. The scenic trail contains stairs and may not be suitable for pushchairs. However, there is a grassy area at the end of The Parade. Dogs are permitted off-leash in all areas. Dingle Dell has long been overlooked as a nature reserve, named by the New Zealand Herald in the 1950s the "Cinderella of Auckland's Parks."

Dingle Dell was originally part of the larger area first named in the 1300s as Te Pane o Horoiwi, the Head of Horoiwi (of Tainui waka). [ unreliable source? ] After Pākehā settlement the section that would become Dingle Dell was called the "bush reserve" by St Heliers residents. In 1925 a local resident Mr Todd Smith wrote to The Tamaki Recorder requesting a change to a more distinctive name. The name was changed to Dingle's Bush, and then Dingle Dell in the 1930s. Dingle Dell is a reference by a local resident to Charles Dickens' "Dingley Dell" in The Pickwick Papers.

The last traditional occupiers of Dingle Dell and the wider St Heliers/ Kohimarama area before European settlement were Ngāti Pāoa, who had been gifted the land by Ngāti Whātua in the late 1700s. [ unreliable source? ]

Dingle Dell was purchased from Ngāti Paoa in 1841 as part of the Kohimarama block. [ unreliable source? ] The Society appealed to the Mayor of Auckland John Allum for funding, and was involved in the planting and development of the reserve which was at that time still in poor and unsafe condition.

In 1904 the Tamaki West Road Board took over the area from the New Zealand and Rive Plate Land Mortgage Company. The reserve was originally a raupō swamp, but in 1928 Auckland City Council took over the area and began the transformation into the reserve it is today.

In 1928 a women's progress league was formed in St Heliers, which collected money and hosted working bees to create the first path down Dingle Road.

In the 1930s, men on labour relief schemes spurred by the Great Depression built Fern Glen Road. They filled the swamp and formed about 20 paths. The Director of Plant Reserves Mr T.G. Aldridge and St Heliers resident Mr J.W. Kealy lead the planting of native ferns and trees, including nikau palms.

In 1950 the St Heliers Beautifying Society helped to transform the reserve into a "wilderness park," closely resembling the reserve as it is today. The reserve at the time lacked native trees and had sparse growth, with only one kauri. The Society appealed to the Mayor of Auckland John Allum for funding, and was involved in the planting and development of the reserve.

In 1954, 100 trees were planted for the 50th anniversary of the Road Board taking over the Reserve. As of June 1955 the reserve had 72 kauri trees, 36 rimu trees, and 20 varieties of native trees. In this year 100 nikau trees were planted. The St Heliers Beautifying Society added three seats by the Fern Glen Road entrance to the reserve.

The last traditional occupiers of Dingle Dell and the wider St Heliers/ Kohimarama area before European settlement were Ngāti Pāoa, who had been gifted the land by Ngāti Whātua in the late 1700s. [ unreliable source? ]

Dingle Dell was purchased from Ngāti Paoa in 1841 as part of the Kohimarama block. [ unreliable source? ] The Society appealed to the Mayor of Auckland John Allum for funding, and was involved in the planting and development of the reserve which was at that time still in poor and unsafe condition.

In 1904 the Tamaki West Road Board took over the area from the New Zealand and Rive Plate Land Mortgage Company. The reserve was originally a raupō swamp, but in 1928 Auckland City Council took over the area and began the transformation into the reserve it is today.

In 1928 a women's progress league was formed in St Heliers, which collected money and hosted working bees to create the first path down Dingle Road.

In the 1930s, men on labour relief schemes spurred by the Great Depression built Fern Glen Road. They filled the swamp and formed about 20 paths. The Director of Plant Reserves Mr T.G. Aldridge and St Heliers resident Mr J.W. Kealy lead the planting of native ferns and trees, including nikau palms.

In 1950 the St Heliers Beautifying Society helped to transform the reserve into a "wilderness park," closely resembling the reserve as it is today. The reserve at the time lacked native trees and had sparse growth, with only one kauri. The Society appealed to the Mayor of Auckland John Allum for funding, and was involved in the planting and development of the reserve.

In 1954, 100 trees were planted for the 50th anniversary of the Road Board taking over the Reserve. As of June 1955 the reserve had 72 kauri trees, 36 rimu trees, and 20 varieties of native trees. In this year 100 nikau trees were planted. The St Heliers Beautifying Society added three seats by the Fern Glen Road entrance to the reserve.

The reserve features a number of all-weather walking paths on gravel, tracks, and stairs in the bush.

The diversity of native bush in Dingle Dell has allowed for the growth and habitation of many native species not often found in urban areas. The Auckland Botanical Society has led excursions to Dingle Dell, the first being in 1939. [ original research? ]

Up to a hundred kauri trees can be found in Dingle Dell. Dingle Dell is possibly infected by kauri dieback. [ better source needed ] Fences and signs have been placed to warn visitors about the risk of kauri dieback and to keep visitors on the paths. [ citation needed ]

The reserve features a number of all-weather walking paths on gravel, tracks, and stairs in the bush.