C.I.P. (Charlesworth Reserve).

Hi Guys

Today in class we have been researching about Charlesworth reserve and how it became to be. The main reason we were researching about it is that we are going to be planting some native bush and trees to help with climate change and bring back more native animals. I have found out a lot of things like how he died and how the reserve got its name. Here it is:

Charlesworth reserve is named after an England folk named captain William Charlesworth. William Charlesworth was born in Yorkshire, England in 1814. William took to the sea and worked as the first sailer on a boat named ‘The Brothers’ which traded around the Pacific and the Orient.  His title of Captain came when he was in charge of a ship called the ‘Royal Saxon’ and that’s where he saw more of the world, traveling as far south as Australia and even seeing the shores of Russia.

In the Mid 1850’s William retired in Lyttelton. In his retirement, he began to buy land left, right and center and also purchased local businesses such as ‘The Mitre’ at Lyttelton 

William’s main piece of land sat alongside Ferry Road and was known as Saxon Farm.  The house he had there was wonderful and was known as the Saxon Villa. Charlesworth Street in Linwood is an acknowledgment of this history. 

Once he settled, William returned to England to collect the rest of his family.  All but his parents returned with him. He also met his future wife who was the daughter of the Inn Keeper where he was staying.  Admiring her fine housekeeping skills, he asked Hannah Jane to marry him, in spite of him being 20 years older. They had one son upon returning to Christchurch, they married in a registry office.   

On the 10th June 1875, William was having some tree felling done and he wanted to help out.  Due to an accident, William ended up being wounded in the foot by an ax. Succumbing to blood poisoning very quickly, William was buried just 5 days later at the Woolston Cemetery.  On his gravestone, which he shares with his wife and son.

This 20 hectares of land, separated from the estuary by Linwood Ave and Humphries Drive, was drained in the 1920s and used as pasture. Restoration began in 1991 when paddocks were cleared and planted, and tidal pools were re-created.

The reserve is comprised of a tidal basin with surrounding salt meadow, saltmarsh, coastal shrubland, and coastal bush.

The space is also a valuable recreational area for the local community. Seats at viewing points overlook the pools which are a hotspot for wetland and wading birds, including the migratory bar-tailed godwit/kuaka.

Over 100,000 trees, shrubs, and marsh plants have now been planted at this site and volunteers play a major role in caring for these.  

Charlesworth reserve is being restored by Avon-Heathcote Ihutai Estuary Trust, with support from Trees for Canterbury, who donate and assist the planting of native vegetation. 

I really enjoyed learning this subject and can't wait to go there next week to help out and do some planting.

Bye!