Come join the ranger team and the Avon-Heathcote Ihutai Estuary Trust every Sunday for our regular working bees, or turn up to one of our large public planting days with Trees for Canterbury.

Charlesworth planting; photo Aaron Campbell.

Trees for Canterbury public planting day is Sunday 16 May from 10 am to midday.

Join Christchurch City Council and Avon Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust(external link) 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.
  • Trees for Canterbury public planting day for 2021 is Sunday 16 May, 10 am - 12 pm.

Access Charlesworth Reserve from Charlesworth Street, Ferrymead. There is plenty of car parking available.

For more information, contact info@estuary.org.nz.

Charlesworth Reserve’s habitat is a restoration of tidal wetland and surrounding coastal shrub land and forest. This is an important habitat for native wetland birds and will become increasingly important as a habitat for bush birds, lizards and native insects as the vegetation matures. Over 100,000 trees, shrubs and marsh plants have been planted at this site - volunteers play a major role in caring for these, as well as establishing further habitat.

During autumn, winter and spring work is mainly focused around planting, weeding and mulching whilst the summer work is mainly weeding, watering and litter removal.

What to bring

  • Appropriate clothing for any weather: sunhat, warm jacket and raincoat
  • Sturdy footwear or gumboots
  • Personal work gloves
  • Tools, sunscreen and gloves are supplied.

Contact

For further information contact Andrew Crossland on 027 434 1155 or Andrew.crossland@ccc.govt.nz.