Contents

COVER : Buddhist prayer flags flutter from the top of a temple in the Sherpa homeland of the Himalayas. The religious life of the hardy Sherpas is just one of the features which attract New Zealand’s doyen of adventurers, Sir Edmund Hillary, and a host of others to this part of the world.
CONTENTS - Features : BURRA-SAHIB : THE LEGACY OF SIR EDMUND HILLARY [Hillary’s ascent of Everest was only the beginning of his involvement with the little kingdom of Nepal, an involvement that has since seen a succession of New Zealanders taking a keen practical interest in the well-being of the Sherpas and their mountainous homeland]; HEADS IN THE CLOUDS [Trees can only grow so far up the mountains, but once they peter out, hardier plants take their place for a further 1000m, some getting right into the snow zone. Our alpine flora is unusually rich, and these plants, which flourish under such adverse conditions, present a glorious diversity of beauty in leaf and form]; CROUCHING SPIDER, HIDDEN BEETLE [While human interest typically focuses on larger plants and animals, many of the tiny and less familiar creatures in our forests are every bit as intriguing]; RIVERHEAD : AN URBAN FOREST [At a time when sizable areas of land for recreational use near large cities are shrinking, pine forests are being increasingly viewed as a major asset. Riverhead Forest embedded in the outskirts of Auckland, is now host to much more than pine planting and felling]; A STITCH IN TIME [Cousin to the sweet-singing, nectar-sipping tui and bellbird is the little known and harmonically-challenged stitchbird. It is proving difficult to induce this rare species to thrive, even where the cards seem to be stacked in its favour - a pity, because this handsome bird has many unusual attributes];
CONTENTS - Departments : GEONEWS [mapping the rocks]; WEATHER [the paradox of snow]; OPEN COUNTRY [memories of hops]; COMING UP [What’s in store];