Trelissick Park Celebration

One of Wellington's most popular parks for walkers and lovers of native bush is celebrating 20 years since community volunteers banded together to help rescue it from years of neglect.

The Trelissick Park Group formed in 1991 and built on earlier restoration work by individuals and organisations.

Trelissick Park is 20 hectares of native bush in Ngaio Gorge that includes Kaiwharawhara and Korimako streams and a number of walkways. It is today managed in partnership by volunteer groups, Wellington City and Greater Wellington Regional councils.

After suffering a legacy of 19th century sawmilling and farming, pollution from sewer mains and damage from roading and railway, works, the park has been transformed over the past 20 years. Native forest has been restored, there is fish life in the stream and there are more birds and native seedlings coming through. Each year we supply up to 500 native plants endemic to Wellington for the group to plant.

Frances Lee, one of the original volunteers and a passionate supporter of the campaign to restore Trelissick Park, says the progress over the past 20 years has been incredibly satisfying.

"The community has shown what can be done with what was a messy, weedy and neglected area. Trelissick Park is a hidden gem, only five minutes from the centre of the city with the potential to further enhance Wellington's environment and attractiveness."