Fire regeneration

Some exploring on a misty day, up on the Port Hills, observing the autumn regeneration that is occurring after the Port Hills fires in February.

We were looking down on Governor's Bay and the head of Lyttelton Harbour.

The new growth in the foreground is bracken fern, with burnt bush (mainly native) spilling down towards Governor's Bay, which at one stage was considered at risk from the large fire. The fire started on the other side of the Port Hills (behind the photograph), but easily jumped the Summit Road, fanned by strong winds.

In general, the native bush resisted the fire better that the exotics, but still burned fiercely in places.