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.

Barnett Park Community Planting

Help volunteers tidy up Barnett Park with weeding and mulching.

Location: Barnett Park, Redcliffs, meet in the car park

Date: Wednesday 10 May 2023

Time: 10am to 12pm

Bring: Warm clothes and closed toe shoes.

Council contact: Holly.Whitaker@ccc.govt.nz

Denton Park Community Planting

Location: Denton Park, Hornby, off Main South Road 

Date: Tuesday 16 May 2023

Time: 10am to 11.30am

Bring: Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and long sleeves. Bring your own gloves if you have them.

Council contact: Community ranger Holly.Whitaker@ccc.govt.nz

Shirley 'Bird Song' Trail Community Planting

Location: The Acheson Ave end of MacFarlane Park.

Date: Saturday 20 May 2023

Time: 9.30am to 11.30am

Bring: Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and long sleeves. Bring your own gloves if you have them.

Community contact: Colin 027 639 1331

Council contact: Community ranger Annaliese.CaukwellMills@ccc.govt.nz

Morning tea provided.

Harrington Community Planting

Location: Harrington Park, Riccarton, off Peverel Street 

Dates: Monday 3 July, Saturday 25 September 2023

Time: 9.30 to 11am 

Bring: Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and long sleeves. Bring your own gloves if you have them.

Council contact: Community ranger Holly.Whitaker@ccc.govt.nz

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.

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.