Jean Malpas Community Nursery
Our Community Nursery is the heart of our operations. Each year we propagate and grow approximately 10,000 native plants to support reforestation efforts at our planting sites.
Our Community Nursery is open every Wednesday morning from 9.00 am- 12.00 noon (drop in style).
Volunteering at our nursery has many benefits, including:
- learning about NZ native plants in a hands-on, supportive environment,
- playing an active role in helping to restore the biodiversity of the Whakatipu Basin,
- helping to grow native trees that will absorb carbon and help to mitigate climate change,
- making new friends with like-minded community members.
No gardening experience required | Morning tea provided
What to bring: Gardening gloves, water, hat & sunscreen.
Location: Jean Malpas Community Nursery, Poplar Drive, Jardine Park, Kelvin Heights.
Community Planting Days
Each spring and autumn we invite our community to help plant native trees & shrubs at our keystone sites. Since 2015, we have planted over 75,000 natives throughout the Whakatipu Basin. Our sites are thriving examples of successful ecological restoration, providing habitat and food for our native birds, insects & invertebrates.
Keystone Site Planting Days
Our Keystone Sites are large, multi-year planting projects on public land. Our vision is to create wildlife corridors that will, in turn, attract native birds, lizards & invertebrates back into the basin, significantly enhancing the biodiversity of the region. This autumn we invite our community to help us to plant a further 5000 natives that have been grown by volunteers at our Community Nursery throughout the year.
All planting days are drop-in style between 9am – 12 noon.
Sat 2nd September – Whitechapel Reserve, Whitechapel Road, Arrow Junction (followed by Community BBQ). Parking: adjacent to planting site.
Sat 9th September – Lake Hayes Pavilion. Parking at Lake Hayes Pavilion or Lake Hayes Rowing Club
Sat 16th September– Slope Hill Road (tributary of Mill Creek) – access off Speargrass Flat Road. Planting site is next to the bike trail, approximately 1km along Slope Hill Road (access ONLY from the Speargrass Flat Rd). Parking : look for WRT flag on the left.
Sat 30th September – Bush Creek, Arrowtown, behind the Chinese Village. Parking area next to The Dishery.
New to volunteer planting days? Here’s what to expect on the day…
When you arrive, look for the green Whakatipu Reforestation Trust flag where a team member wearing a hi-viz vest will greet you and direct you to the registration table to sign in and receive a health and safety briefing.
After sign in you will receive training on the whole planting process, so no prior experience is required.
A volunteer will show you how to:
- dig a hole (or plant directly into a pre-dug hole)
- remove plants from their bags
- place weed mats
- install plant guards and bamboo canes
All of the plants, plant guards, and bamboo stakes will have already been distributed around the planting site. You can simply look around and find some plants that are ready to be dug in and start planting. Volunteers are welcome to take lots of photos and selfies and spread awareness of planting days and WRT’s work in the community!
WRT will also be taking photos throughout the event. If someone in hi-viz asks to take your photo, please feel free to either give them your best smile, or let them know if you would rather not have your photo taken. They respect that not everyone wants to end up in their FB and Insta posts!
Morning tea, including hot drinks, provided courtesy of Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa | Crowne Plaza Queenstown.
