Waimakariri River planting days: Join your community in greening the banks
Get your thumbs green and join us to restore our region's biodiversity at the upcoming Waimakariri River planting days at Rock Spur/Lorimas.
Since 2021, we have planted over 30,000 native trees along the Waimakariri River. Approximately half of these were planted by over 1,000 volunteers through schools, community groups and public planting events.
Parks and Forests Manager, Chuck Dowdell says these planting days are a great day out for everyone.
"These planting days are a lot of fun and a fantastic opportunity to help enhance the biodiversity of the area. Trees and a planting site will be provided for participants, alongside a planting tutorial, spades and tea and coffee. Please bring your own gardening gloves if you can."
"Planting efforts along the Waimakariri River in recent years have increased the habitat for native fauna and have made a huge impact on local bird populations, showing what’s possible when the community works together" said Dowdell.
The key planting days coming up on Saturday 29 July, Saturday 12 August and Saturday 26 August are at Rock Spur/Lorimas Road located on the south bank of the Waimakariri River slightly downstream of The Sanctuary Wetland. The area contains over 40 remnant kōwhai trees amongst many other species such as karamu, tī kōuka, and harakeke.
By planting in this area, everyone can play their part in restoring the local ecosystem, improve habitat for the local fauna and continue the native corridor consistent with the Ngāi Tahu concept of Ki Uta Ki Tai which seeks to manage our lands holistically from the mountains to the sea.
Event information
Saturday 29 July 2023 - Rock Spur/Lorimas
Join us for the first of three volunteer planting days at Rock Spur native planting days alongside the Waimakariri River! This is the first public planting for this season, so please come along with friends and whānau to get stuck in and start the tree planting season.
How to get there:
The entrance is via Lorimas Road off Coutt's Island Road. Take a left when you reach the stopbank and follow the stopbank west until you reach the Rock Spur car park and picnic area. Look out for the blue Regional Park Events flags and our friendly staff in high-vis gear.
What does the day involve?
- 9:45 am – Registration opens at the planting site and tea and coffee are served.
- 10:00 am – Opening words.
- 10.05am – Safety briefing and planting demonstration.
- 12:30 pm – Return to home base for BBQ lunch and group photo.
- 1:00 pm – Finish.
Saturday 12 August 2023 - Rock Spur/Lorimas
Join us for the second of three volunteer planting days at Rock Spur on the southern banks of the Waimakariri River.
How to get there:
The entrance is via Lorimas Road off Coutt’s Island Road. Take a left when you reach the stopbank and follow the stopbank west until you reach the Rock Spur car park and picnic area. Look out for the blue Regional Park Events flags and our friendly staff in high-vis gear.
What does the day involve?
- 9:45 am – Registration opens at the planting site and tea and coffee are served.
- 10:00 am – Opening words.
- 10.05am – Safety briefing and planting demonstration.
- 12:30 pm – Return to home base for BBQ lunch and group photo.
- 1:00 pm – Finish.
Saturday 26 August 2023 - Rock Spur/Lorimas Road
This is the final public planting for this season in the Waimakariri River Regional Park. Help us finish the season off and get some more plants in the ground.
How to get there:
Entrance is via Lorimas Road off Coutt’s Island Road. Take a left when you reach the stopbank and follow the stopbank west until you reach the Rock Spur car park and picnic area. Look out for the blue Regional Park Events flags and our friendly staff in high-vis gear.
What does the day involve?
- 9:45 am – Registration opens at the planting site and tea and coffee are served.
- 10:00 am – Opening words from Environment Canterbury.
- 10.05am – Safety briefing and planting demonstration.
- 12:30 pm – Return to home base for BBQ lunch and group photo.
- 1:00 pm – Finish.