Climate change, Parks and playgrounds, sustainability, Water  |  7h ago

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Stage two of the Addington Brook renewal programme in South Hagley Park is well underway, with half of the earthworks and all of the tree removals now completed.

The spring-fed brook is being naturalised to improve the biodiversity and health of the waterway, enhance park safety and restore drainage capacity.

Stage one, which was completed last year, involved flattening and stabilising the banks before planting them with native riparian strips to protect against future erosion and help filter contaminants.

Work on stage two of the project began in January this year, with earthworks progressing well and tree removals taking place alongside and within the brook. 

Approximately 500 new trees will be planted in the next few months, to allow for a range of tree species of various ages and heights along the waterway. 

Some of the wood from removed trees will be used to make natural play features such as balancing logs, stepping posts and seating in future playground renewals and where possible, the Christchurch City Council Parks team use recycled timber for park benches and picnic tables.

Christchurch Woodturners Association, a non-profit charity, will use some to help train new woodturners and some will be used to improve the ecological habitat for eels and fish living in the brook, by providing cover from predators and resting places during storm flows. 

As one of the most polluted waterways in Christchurch, the renewal of Addington Brook will have multiple benefits, including improved biodiversity, increased stormwater drainage capacity and enhanced landscaping and safety for park users.

The current renewal work is expected to be completed by spring, with a future filtration project expected to further improve the water quality.