Park rangers and the community are working together to realise the regeneration plan for the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor.

Want to help create a living legacy for our city? Our planting season takes place over autumn through winter from May to August.

We work with other partners to make this legacy a reality. Contact RRZRangers@ccc.govt.nz.

Dallington Landing - Rotary Forest of Peace and Remembrance

Conservation Volunteers New Zealand are returning to Dallington Landing this Autumn/Winter to extend the Forest of Peace and Remembrance with an additional 10,000 trees. 

Planting is all finished for the season - ka rawe. Stay tuned for maintenance (tree rescue) events. 

Register via CVNZ website(external link).

Waikākāriki/Horseshoe Lake

Waikākāriki/Horseshoe Lake was the site of a significant settlement called Te Oranga. A tributary to the Ōtākaro, Waikākāriki was rich in wildlife and natural resources and was a significant site for mahinga kai.

Conservation Volunteers New Zealand will be hosting several public planting days to restore the wetland areas along the New Brighton Road edge and streamside.  

August:

  • Thursday 28 August 1pm to 4pm
  • Saturday 30 August 1pm to 4pm

September:

  • Thursday 4 September 1pm to 4pm
  • Sunday 7 September 1pm to 4pm – Welcome Week and Conservation Week
  • Thursday 11 September 1pm to 4pm
  • Saturday 20 September 1pm to 4pm – Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

Register via CVNZ website(external link).

Avon-Ōtākaro Forest Park - Brooker Forest planting

The public is welcome to join in these community-led events under the auspice of Avon-Ōtākaro Forest Park(external link):

Planting is finished for the season, thanks to all those who helped. 

Contact:  avonotakaro@gmail.com.

Eco-Action Nursery Trust planting days

The public is welcome to work alongside the students and organisers of these future forest planting events in Chimera Crescent/Atlantis Street, accessed off Travis Road.

  • Sunday 31 August 10am to midday

Contact: ecoactionnt@gmail.com.

Autumn and spring maintenance

This is a critical step in any restoration project – releasing the plants by weeding the long grass around each one and adding mulch. This allows each plant to access the sunlight and water it needs to thrive and grow.

We are working with Conservation Volunteers New Zealand to support this important work at Cedarwood, Amelia Rogers and Waikākāriki/Goodmans. We welcome group inquiries for De Ville Place/Waikākāriki and Belair Close, Burwood.

Contact:

Nau mai kararehe mā ki tō koutou māra - Welcome wildlife to your garden

  • 9am to 10.30am, Friday 5 September
  • Swanns Road Wildlife Garden, 51 Swanns Road, Richmond

Join rangers and locals for some gentle gardening in the Swanns Road Wildlife Garden to celebrate Te Wiki o Te Taiao Conservation Week(external link).

Backyards play an important role in increasing biodiversity in our city. If your garden is a place where wildlife wants to live, then it is also likely to be a good place for people too.

We are developing a section of the red zone into a wildlife garden that highlights what we can all do in our gardens to support and encourage more biodiversity in the urban environment.

The space features native plants found naturally on the Canterbury plains that have strong relationships with our manu birds and pepeke insects in terms of providing kai, marumaru shelter and hanga kōhanga nesting places.

Join us for our regular Friday gardening session and explore the names of the plants, birds and insects. Finish with morning tea and a kēmu patapatai quiz.

We provide tools. Please wear sturdy hū footwear and bring your own takawai water bottle.

Please contact Community Partnership Ranger Sarah Mankelow for more information or to register your attendance: Sarah.Mankelow@ccc.govt.nz

Swanns Road wildlife garden weekly working bee

Join regular community volunteers for just an hour of gardening in our wildlife display garden on the corner of Swanns Road and River Road. 

Every Friday morning from 9am to 10am. 

Organised by We are Richmond – register your interest on their Facebook event(external link). 

Contact for more information: Sarah.Mankelow@ccc.govt.nz 

Waikākāriki Horseshoe Lake – Goodmans Road

Conservation Volunteers New Zealand are helping restore this culturally significant site – Waikākāriki/Horseshoe Lake. 

Maintenance is finished at this site for autumn – stay tuned for dates for Spring maintenance.

Contact: christchurch@cvnz.org.nz

Cedarwood Reserve

Maintenance is finished at this site for autumn – stay tuned for dates for Spring maintenance.

Register: Register with CVNZ (conservationvolunteers.co.nz)(external link)

Contact: christchurch@cvnz.org.nz

Amelia Rogers Reserve

Amelia Rogers Reserve is in the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor, on residential red zone land, Ōtautahi East. Amelia Rogers was a local identity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, running the post office from her home at 348 New Brighton Road.

We'll supply tools. Please bring your own gardening gloves, wear sturdy footwear, long sleeves and pants, and bring a water bottle. 

Maintenance is finished at this site for autumn – stay tuned for dates for Spring maintenance.

Register: Register with CVNZ (conservationvolunteers.co.nz)(external link)

Contact: christchurch@cvnz.org.nz

Dallington Landing

 Dallington Landing is the site of a Rotary Forest of Peace and Remembrance, planted by CVNZ volunteers in 2022 and 2023 as part of Rotary's centennial celebrations. 

When: Stay tuned for 2025 dates.

Register: Register with CVNZ (conservationvolunteers.co.nz)(external link)

Contact: christchurch@cvnz.org.nz

5000 trees at Deville Place

This is the perfect site for any schools looking to fulfil their community service hours and October to December is a great time to come together and do some spring or summer maintenance. 

Contact the red zone team if you are interested in bringing your team to this site to make a real contribution to the restoration of this culturally significant site – Waikākāriki/Horseshoe Lake. 

Contact:  RRZRangers@ccc.govt.nz

Di Madgin's heritage garden

Support Avon Ōtākaro Network with the maintenance of this peaceful oasis, which was once the home garden of legendary gardening journalist Di Madgin.

When: Stay tuned for 2025 dates

Register: Register with CVNZ (conservationvolunteers.co.nz)(external link)

Contact: christchurch@cvnz.org.nz

Port Hills red zone – 186 Bridle Path Road

Support some tree rescue at this lush site in Heathcote Valley. 1000 trees need releasing and mulching to ensure their survival - what a great way to take a break from your desk. 

Maintenance is finished at this site for autumn – stay tuned for dates for spring maintenance.

Contact: Sarah.Mankelow@ccc.govt.nz 

Please wear long sleeves and pants and bring:

  • Appropriate clothing for any weather: sunhat, warm jacket and raincoat.  
  • Sturdy footwear or gumboots.
  • Work gloves.
  • Water bottle and sunscreen.

Tools are supplied.

For further information contact parks.volunteers@ccc.govt.nz.

At 602 hectares, the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor regeneration area is three-and-a-half times larger than Hagley Park. 

Although this will be a generational project that’s likely to take between 30 and 50 years to fully develop, we encourage people to visit and connect with the land that once held more than 5,000 homes.

The Green Spine will form the core of the regeneration area. At 11km long, it will follow the Ōtākaro Avon River and feature swathes of restored native habitat, trails, paths, footbridges, community spaces, and riverside landings that provide access to the water and local information about the area.

Over the past few years, Council staff, organisations and volunteers have planted tens of thousands of native trees throughout the Green Spine, as we begin bringing the vision of an ecologically-restored river corridor to life. 

Some of the larger ecological planting projects you can get involved in include: