From Makarewa to Bluff, Otatara to Seaward Bush, Invercargill has some stunning green spaces and forests worth celebrating.

It is our people who help our city grow, and our parks and reserves offer places for our communities to thrive.

Now, the Invercargill City Council wants to help grow our green spaces, by planting the equivalent of our population.

The Parks and Recreation team have set an ambitious target to plant more than 54,200 trees or shrubs.

This project will contribute to reducing carbon emissions, improve habitat for native flora and fauna, and create natural environments for future generations.

Staff will be focusing on planting our ecological areas, but you will see new trees and native shrubs throughout our parks and streets.

To achieve this goal, staff are calling for volunteers to register for special planting days which will be held throughout the 2020 planting season. Whether you can lend a hand preparing sites for planting, or doing the planting itself, or assisting with post-planting care, there’s plenty of ways you can get involved.

The Plant our Population initiative will be officially launched during the nursery open day at McIvor Road on March 7, with opportunities to register, and to take away a free seedling of your own so that you can contribute to the programme.

Click here to register as a volunteer or your planting project