Help park rangers and community groups keep our coastal, regional and wetland parks looking beautiful at these planting and maintenance days.

Community volunteer days

Stay tuned for the next event.

Regular working bees

Charlesworth Reserve Working Bees

Join Christchurch City Council and Avon Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust every Sunday afternoon to help maintain Charlesworth Reserve.

Tasks depend on the season and weather but generally involve planting, pruning, watering and invasive weed removal. There are also opportunities to monitor wildlife such as spiders, moths, birds and skinks, to find out how successful the restoration work has been.

  • From the end of September to the end of March, working bees run Sunday from 3pm to 5pm.
  • From the beginning of April to the end of September, working bees run Sunday from 2pm to 4pm.
  • Access Charlesworth Reserve from Charlesworth Street, Ferrymead. There is plenty of car parking available.

For more information, contact info@estuary.org.nz or Andrew.Crossland@ccc.govt.nz.

South New Brighton Domain

Christchurch City Council and Avon Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust are working with local residents to restore this earthquake-damaged area and enhance the beautiful South New Brighton Domain. Regular tasks include planting, weeding, watering, mulching, pruning and collecting litter. 

  • Third Saturday of every month, 2 pm to 4 pm
  • Meet at the South New Brighton Domain playground, accessed off Beatty Street, South New Brighton
  • For more information, contact Pieter Borcherds on 027 611 8655.

McCormacks Bay

A once neglected wetland, McCormacks Bay is being restored by Christchurch City Council, Avon Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust and local volunteers from the Ferrymead Rotary Club and Mt Pleasant Residents Association.

  • Working bees are held on the third Sunday of each month, 2pm to 4pm
  •  Meet along McCormacks Bay Road – look out for the Council Ranger vehicle

For more information and/or to receive regular updates, email Myles Richardson on mylsie@outlook.co.nz. 

Bird monitoring programme

The Bird monitoring programme(external link) is the first Saturday of every month at 9am.

Meet in the Styx Mill Conservation Reserve car park, off Styx Mill Road.

Bring sturdy outdoor clothing and footwear in case conditions are wet and muddy. If you can, bring a pen and paper, binoculars and a camera/phone.

For more information contact Antony.Shadbolt@ccc.govt.nz.

Water quality monitoring programme

The water quality monitoring programme(external link) is the third Saturday of every month at 10am.

Meet at the Styx Trust laboratory, located inside the Ranger Base at 130 Hussey Road, Harewood.(external link)

Bring sturdy outdoor clothing and footwear in case conditions are wet and muddy. You will be given instructions on how to take water samples, measurements and observations, and be paired with another volunteer.

Register your attendance by emailing styxwq@gmail.com.

Freshwater invertebrate monitoring programme

The Freshwater invertebrate monitoring programme(external link) monitors freshwater invertebrate and is important in determining changes in habitat, aquatic plants and invertebrate over time.

This programme was active up until the earthquakes and is currently looking for enthusiastic assistance to get restarted. If you can help, contact the Trust(external link).

Travis Wetland Working Bees

Join the Christchurch City Council and Travis Wetland Trust(external link) for their monthly working bees focusing on planting, weeding and maintenance. 

  • Third Saturday of every month, 9am to 12.30pm

Meet at the Travis Wetland car park, off Beach Road.

Contact info@traviswetland.org.nz for more information.

 

What to expect

What to bring

  • Weather appropriate clothing – layers, rain jacket, hat.
  • Sturdy boots or gumboots for rough and uneven ground.
  • Gardening or work gloves.
  • Water bottle and snack.
  • Tools and sunscreen will be supplied.