Kennedy's Bush poster

Kennedy's Bush was the first Summit Road reserve established by Henry Ell in 1906.
Ell was a promoter of the Port Hills Walkway and a campaigner for preservation of scenery and protection of native birds.

His group was responsible for the building of an accommodation house known as the 'Sign of the Bellbird'. The reserve was purchased with contributions from the Canterbury public. It is administered by the Christchurch City Council and has been extensively replanted with native plants. This development was mirrored in the campaign of Jane Dean, Ell and Leonard Cockayne to bring Riccarton Bush into public ownership. Riccarton Bush was reserved under its own legislation in 1914.