Join Christchurch City Council Rangers for planting and maintenance days across the seasons in our unique and stunning Port Hills and Banks Peninsula parks and reserves.

The volunteer programme restores and maintains native forest in designated areas of the Port Hills. Volunteers plant native trees each winter and maintain them in spring and autumn to reduce competition from grass.

Maintenance is the most critical part of ecological restoration success. Without regular maintenance for the first three years, plants wouldn't survive due to grass competition.

Winter planting

Where Date Time
Barnett Park Saturday 24 May 1pm to 3pm
Dry Bush Saturday 7 June 1pm to 3pm
Eastside Bush (with a BBQ to follow) Saturday 14 June 1pm to 3pm
Bowenvale Reserve Saturday 12 July 1pm to 3pm

 
Spring maintenance

Where Date Time
Barnett Park Saturday 27 September 1pm to 3pm
Dry Bush Saturday 4 October  1pm to 3pm
Dry Bush Saturday 11 October  1pm to 3pm
Eastside Bush (with a BBQ to follow) Saturday 18 October 1pm to 3pm

Where to meet

  • Barnett Park: Meet at the end of Bay View Road, Redcliffs. On-street parking is available, but please keep accessways clear for residents.
  • Eastside Bush: Meet in the car park behind the Victoria Park Visitor Centre, next to the Park Ranger HQ.
  • Dry Bush: Park at the top of Huntsbury Avenue and walk up Huntsbury 4WD track to the site (1.3 km or 25 minutes), or park on Summit Road and walk down Huntsbury Track to Dry Bush (0.8 km, 10 minutes). Look for the park ranger truck at the cattle stop next to the gate at the entrance to the bush. There is no parking on Huntsbury Track. Check out our walking track map for more information on accessing these tracks.
  • Bowenvale Reserve: Meet at 20 Swanton Drive, Huntsbury. On-street parking. Please keep access ways clear for residents.

On the day

Come prepared for all weather and wear sturdy footwear for hill work.  

Eastside Bush and Dry Bush are steep sites and not suitable for very young children, or a lot of children at one time. If children do attend, they can still get Children's University credits.

Barnett Park is a flat site ideal for families and for obtaining Children's University credits.

For more information, please contact fiona.fenton@ccc.govt.nz

Te Kāio / Tumbledown Bay

Join Wairewa Rūnanga and Christchurch City Council for a planting day at Te Kāio / Tumbledown Bay.

Stay tuned for more dates.

For more information email: alison.evans@ccc.govt.nz

2025 planting days

Pop along to Halswell Quarry Park to help plant native plants from 10am to 12pm on:

Look for directions outside the single-storey stone cottage on the main driveway of Halswell Quarry Park.

Contact Nigel.Morritt@ccc.govt.nz if you have any queries.

 

We recommend:

  • Weather-appropriate clothing and lots of layers – rain jacket, hat etc.
  • Sturdy footwear for rough and uneven ground.
  • Gardening gloves.
  • Sunscreen.
  • Water bottle and a snack.