History
The northern valley of Le Roys Bush was known as ''Te Uruwao'' (or ''Te Uruao'') by early Māori. The stream flowing through this valley forms a high waterfall. Le Roys Bush was bought in 1918 by Edward Le Roy and named Urutapu. Edward established three ponds in which he grew water lilies and kept goldfish. He culverted streams to prevent flooding and piped the stream under the ponds, formed tracks through the bush and planted many native plants from Great Barrier and other parts of New Zealand. After his death in 1947, the reserve was purchased by a public subscription organised by Mr Prickett and members of the North Shore Branch of the Forest and Bird Society. Over time, more parcels of bush were added to the reserve. In the 1970s, Little Shoal Bay became a rubbish dump used by the Birkenhead Council. Local communities protested this, by sitting on bulldozers. Eventually, the councildecided to extend the reserve to include Little Shoal Bay. In 2015, the mana whenua were consulted on the establishment of a lookout at the head of the Le Roys Bush stream and advised the name of the stream was Te Wai Manawa.Extent
Le Roys Bush (12 hectares) has been extended from the original block by addition of further purchases of bush-clad back yards. It extends from Highbury in Birkenhead down a valley between Birkenhead Point and Onewa Road, where it joins thFlora and fauna
The 1998 management plan lists the various species found in the reserve. Links to the plan and other information can be found aReferences
External links