Want to help out in our regional parks?
In the weekends there are opportunities for community-spirited people to help the City Council’s park rangers efforts to bring nature back into the city by assisting with the planting and ongoing care of native plants.
In the Port Hills area planting is being done in various reserves along the hills to enhance remnants of podocarp/hardwood forest. Ranger Di Carter — on 941 6844 or 027 201 5653 — is the contact person for directions to planting sites or to check for postponements.
The Port Hills dates over the next couple of months are as follows and, in all cases, volunteers are asked to bring gloves, a spade and sturdy footwear.
- 11 June at Dry Bush, 1pm-3.30pm. Meet Summit Rd, Huntsbury track
- 18 June at Reuters Reserve 1-3.30pm. Meet at the reserve
- 2 July at Sign of the Bellbird 1-3.30pm. Meet Sign of the Bellbird
- 9 July at Bush Head 1-4.30pm. Meet Summit Rd, Bowenvale saddle. BBQ afterwards.
Plains parks
There are three opportunities to help out in the Plains Area parks over the winter.
- On 29 May, from 1-3pm, Ranger Arthur Adcock (027 226 7801 or 941 7440) is organising a Styx riverbank planting. Meet at the end of Heyders Rd (the road to Spencer Park). At the end there will be a BBQ and display of local civil defence photos.
- On 28 August there is the annual Styx River Planting, from 1-3.30pm. Join the City Council and the Belfast Rotary Club for a family afternoon of planting, weeding and a BBQ to finish. Again, Arthur Adcock is the Council contact.
- On 18 September, the annual Clean Up The Styx event runs from 1-3pm with members of the Guardians Of The Styx group. There will be a BBQ and a hot drink after the clean up. Meet at the Janet Stewart Reserve ( Marshlands Rd and Lower Styx Rd) The contact is Denis Hills, on 352 5545.
Costal Area
- 29 May, 10.30am-12.30pm, Charlesworth Reserve planting with Trees for Canterbury, assisted by The Avon-Heathcote Ihutai Estuary Trust and Ferrymead Brookhaven Residents’ Association. Meet at the Charlesworth Street entrance. The contact is Ranger Scott Butcher on 941 7540 or 027 240 6276.
- 26 June/31 July/28 August, 10am-12 noon. Charlesworth Reserve community workdays take place on the last Sunday of each month. All tools are supplied and hot drinks provided. Jobs — spreading mulch, weed removal and planting maintenance. Contact Scott Butcher.
- 21 May/18 June/16 July/20 August, 9am-12 noon. Travis Wetland Trust community workdays are held on the third Saturday of each month and give people an opportunity to experience hands-on ecological restoration. Meet at the car park on Beach Rd. Work varies, with hand weeding, mulching and planting. Tea, coffee and snacks provided. Bring boots or gumboots, gardening gloves can be supplied. The contact is Ranger John Skilton on 941 7540.
- 17 September. Travis Wetland Planting Day. Join sponsor Trees for Canterbury, the Travis Wetland Trust and the City Council Regional Park Rangers for the 3rd annual planting event. Details will be confirmed closer to the time in City Scene.
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