RIVERBEND RESTORATION

From 1899 to 1948, Riverbend was the estate of George Barnard. The Barnard family designed and planted ornate formal gardens, which once extended from the riverfront nearly all the way to County Road. The gardens included elaborate planting of native and non-native species, as well as ornamental pools, a granite overlook, and a gazebo. Barnard was honored with numerous awards by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in the early 1900s.

Over the last several years, IRWA staff and volunteers have worked to gradually remove the invasive, non-native plants that had colonized this area. In the summer of 2022, the final effort to remove the invasive understory occurred– the understory consisted of Burning Bush, Multiflora Rose, Morrow’s Honeysuckle, Japanese Barberry with Oriental Bittersweet and Kiwi Vines.

As this area recovers, it will undergo annual monitoring for the re-sprouting and germination of invasive seeds, so that plants can be removed before they can mature and re-dominate the area. Concurrently, native plant seedlings and juveniles will be planted in order to further discourage invasives from sprouting as well as to restore the area to a more natural state. Plantings will reflect the native and natural riparian shrublands which are found in the surrounding floodplains.

The restoration of this area allowed for the daylighting of a stream which directly feeds into the Ipswich River. For about 100 years this stream has been confined to a clay pipe. Now that it is unearthed, the small stream ecosystem that would have naturally existed here can take its natural course and be restored.