What's Growing in the Riparian Rhapsody?

What plants and trees can you see in the Riparian Rhapsody at Chingford Park?

Which native plants grew here in the past?

From Ferguslie to Hawthorne by Carole Hendry, “In 1860, North East Valley was described..as a “dense forest”. There was not a single area of clear ground throughout its length and breadth…” “The original Chingford residence was built in 1862.”

In nearby lovelock bush, from Dunedin Botanic Gardens, “regenerating forest after having been cleared 130 years ago. You can easily see the different layers of vegetation. Kanuka is the dominant canopy and underneath is the sub canopy of broadleaf trees, including some podocarps. Lower still are the shrubs and saplings and throughout both layers are climbing plants. On the ground are the low growing ferns and herbaceous plants.”

On signal Hill from the ODT, “By then, Dunedin had grown rapidly and the podocarp-broadleaf forest that would have once clothed Signal Hill was gone. The land was in a scrubby phase, having been colonised by light-loving kanuka...There are common broadleaves, such as mahoe and pittosporum, and conifers, such as kahikatea, miro and matai.”