TV Transmitter

This image shows one of the downsides of living in a city, with all the trappings of civilisation. The TV mast often gets in the way of natural-looking landscapes from around here. This is a familiar view (to me) of Castle Rock from the Britten Reserve on Mt Pleasant, taken on our regular morning walk.

It is worth remembering that the bare, grass-covered hillsides are unnatural too. They were originally covered in native forest, which was partially burnt by Maori, and later cleared by European settlers for grazing. The predominant vegetation on the Port Hills is now introduced grasses, clovers and other herbs. Quite a few native species can be found as well, especially around the rocky outcrops, where they are more protected from sheep grazing. However, where areas are no longer grazed (as in the dark, green patch below Castle Rock), exotic shrub weeds rapidly establish, the most common around here being Scotch broom, Cytisus scoparius.