Story: Canterbury region

Riccarton Bush

Riccarton Bush

Fires and farming have reduced the original vegetation of Canterbury to a few remnants. Once there were large podocarp forests on the Canterbury Plains. Now little remains, but an exception is the small area of kahikatea forest at Christchurch’s Riccarton Bush, at the right of this photo. Also known as Deans Bush, it abutted the run established by brothers John and William Deans in 1843. In a clearing is the large homestead, Riccarton House, built later by the Deans family.

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Riccarton House

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How to cite this page:

John Wilson, 'Canterbury region - Plants, animals and conservation', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/10307/riccarton-bush (accessed 29 April 2024)

Story by John Wilson, reviewed & revised 6 Jul 2015