Volunteer in our green spaces
The work Wellington's volunteers do to restore our natural environment is invaluable to the Council, the wider community, and our environment.
Volunteer activities include:
- planting and restoration
- animal pest control
- weed control
- track building
- rubbish collection
- fundraising to enhance reserves
- tour and guide work
- freshwater monitoring.
Care for a site or a species
Our rangers support community groups and initiatives through our reserves. If you are passionate about restoring one of our precious parks and reserves get in touch.
We can provide the trees you need, while you provide the hands to plant them. There are also opportunities to help with beach, dune, or forest clean-ups, weeding, and track building.
We can celebrate your hard work by sharing your stories in our publications and on our websites.
If you'd like to participate, email: parkranger@wcc.govt.nz
Group planting and casual volunteering
If you're looking to volunteer in the great outdoors with a school group or corporate team, the easiest way is through our partners at Conservation Volunteers.
We support them by preparing sites and providing plants, and they will provide training, coordination, and resourcing to support your hard work.
Planting season is usually through the winter, from mid-May through to the end of August.
To find out how to organise group planting or other casual volunteering, email: wellington@cvnz.org.nz
Volunteer in a botanic garden
Help us show off what we've got in our gardens!
Wellington Botanic Garden
Volunteer as a host or guide with the Friends of the Botanic Garden, with opportunities ranging from weekly to monthly.
Ōtari-Wilton's Bush
- Volunteer to host, guide, or restore outdoors with Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Trust.
- Volunteer positions in the garden may be available for those with relevant horticultural experience or study.
Email: treehouse@wcc.govt.nz
Volunteer at Berhampore Nursery
Berhampore Nursery hosts volunteers to assist with growing native plants. Jobs can be indoors or outdoors, including weeding, watering and potting up. We can usually host between 1-2 volunteers at a time.
Volunteers are subject to prior vetting and should be of suitable fitness with an interest in horticulture.
Please note we can only accept young people as volunteers through Gateway, as provided by their secondary school.
Email: berhamporenursery@wcc.govt.nz
Volunteer in a community garden
Check out the contact information for your local community garden to work out how to get involved as a volunteer. Many community gardens hold regular working bees for the curious or the green-fingered.
Other ways you can get involved
Attend education programmes
For outdoor school activities and programmes, check out the Discovery Garden in the Wellington Botanic Garden, and at Ōtari-Wilton's Bush.
Education at Wellington Gardens
In your own garden