Many of the city's neighbourhood parks are cared for with the help of the local community. Find out how you can get involved.

Community planting; photographer Aaron Campbell.

Community volunteer days

Lancaster Park Community Planting Day

Take part in the first major planting event at Lancaster Park.

Help transform the southwest corner of this iconic park with beautiful native plants like sedge, flax and rush.

  • 1pm to 3pm Saturday 23 September 

Meet in the southwest corner of the park. The nearest access to the planting site is off either Talfourd Place or Lismore Street.

Contact Parks.Volunteers@ccc.govt.nz or call the Christchurch City Council on 03 941 8999 for more information.

Regular working bees

Laura Kent Reserve

The Laura Kent Reserve Workgroup meet on the first Saturday of every month for a couple of hours.  

We remove blackberry, poplar seedlings and other unwanted species and are planting native plants historically found in the area. 

Please come and join us here with spades, gloves & a sense of humour!

  • Monthly on the first Saturday of the month between 9am and 11am.
  • Between Radley Street and Riley Cresent, beside the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River.

Head to the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Network (external link)for more information or register your interest by emailing dugaldwil@gmail.com.

Thistledown Reserve

Join Park Rangers, Ihutai Trust and passionate volunteers at the Thistledown Reserve working bee.

  • Monthly on Saturday mornings between 10am and midday.
  • End of Thistledown Place, Woolston.

Tasks include planting, pruning, weeding and mulching. Wear gumboots or old sneakers as there are wet and muddy areas on site.

Download the 2020 schedule. [PDF, 647 KB]

Farnley Reserve 

  • Every third Sunday of the month, 9am to 10.30am.
  • Eastern Terrace, Beckenham.

Tasks include weeding, mulching and planting. Wear sturdy footwear and bring your own morning tea gloves, wheelbarrow and gardening tools.

For more information, friendsoffarnley@gmail.com

Papanui Bush 

  • Every second Tuesday of the month, 8.30am to 12.30pm.
  • Bridgestone Reserve, 46 Langdons Road, Papanui.

Tasks include weed releasing, planting and general tidying up.

Contact Denis McMurtrie on 021 125 1920 for more information.

Drayton Reserve

Drayton Reserve also holds regular working bees, check the Drayton Reserve Volunteers(external link) website or sign up for the newsletter to receive details of upcoming planting days.

What to expect

During autumn, winter and spring, volunteer work is often focused around planting, weeding and mulching. In summer, work is mainly weeding, watering and litter removal.

Bring sturdy footwear, a bottle of water, snacks and warm clothes. Some gloves and spades are provided but bring your own if you can.