Southern alpine ash.
Christchurch City Council has a list of Heritage and Notable protected trees on public and private grounds. Some are found in parks and the Botanic Gardens, but most are on private land
Notable trees are those which have special value to the community for one or a combination of reasons - the trees' scenic, recreational, scientific, historical and/or other values. There is also provision for the protection of trees during sub-division, development or other site works, where important trees are particularly vulnerable to damage or unnecessary removal.
There is particular responsibility on the Council for it to ensure that when any development works are proposed on Council land, full account is taken of any trees or vegetation and every practicable effort is made to ensure their preservation.
Why so few protected native trees?
Apart from isolated strands of native trees and bush such as Riccarton and Papanui Bush, early photographs indicate there were very few native trees in Christchurch. This was perhaps because the area was predominantly swamp.
Early European settlers tended to bring and propagate trees from their homeland for nostalgic, ornamental and practical reasons. They knew the trees well and appreciated their beauty and the practical uses for the timber.
Against these values, the native trees were an unknown quantity and were probably considered to be somewhat feral.
Since few native trees were therefore planted in the early days, large, old natives are few and far between in the city and are greatly outnumbered by deciduous trees from the northern hemisphere.
Christchurch residents place a high value on receiving unobstructed winter sunlight. Northern hemisphere trees that lose their leaves in winter are greatly preferred in this respect.
