BIG GIVE 2025

Come along to the SVA Big Give 2025 and help restore part of an important floodplain ecosystem in the Ōtākaro – Avon River as part of the Green Spine regeneration project.

This area alongside Corser Stream sits just on the edge of the area known as Ōruapaeroa. Ōruapaeroa/Travis was a traditional kāinga (settlement), which included the wetlands surrounding the Ōtākaro/Avon and Ōpāwaho/Heathcote rivers. These wetlands supported an abundance of native fish and birdlife, and the site was an important mahinga kai nohoanga (seasonal food landing).

This is a new planting site, but it is across Corser Stream from the six-year-old restoration project managed by Avon-Ōtākaro Forest Park. This means you can see what a planting project might look like after six years and be inspired.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Buses and transport are all organised and paid for, leaving the UCSA at roughly 9:15 am.

Snacks and a barbeque lunch are provided on site, including dietaries.

An up and coming student band, Second Nature, will be playing afternoon tunes while we have some lunch.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Around 3 hours of volunteering in the morning followed by 1-2 hours for lunch.

A good opportunity to get to know other volunteers and form groups to bring to the rest of our events this year!!!

Live band playing during lunchtime!!!

You will be helping to ensure the survival of new native plants that will one day form a riparian forest. By heavily mulching, we will be helping to build up soil quality that has been impacted by the earthquake and the subsequent demolition of houses. Having the SVA return to the Red Zone where we spent a lot of our time shovelling liquefaction, over a decade ago to now restore soil is completing the cycle of recovery, essentially coming full circle.

CORE ACTIVITIES

Move and spread mulch around restoration plantings to restore soil and suppress weeds.

Hand-releasing around native plantings with Avon Ōtākaro Forest Park Trust.

ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES

Trap-box building - suitable for those in wheelchairs or unable to walk over rough ground.

Invertebrate sampling and processing – will need a few who are able to collect traps by walking over rough ground but the majority of the work is low-impact and methodical and can be done without walking,