In 2002, Retired Papanui High School Geography teacher Denis McMurtrie began the process of enhancing the ecosystem in an area that once was part of Papanui Bush.
Bridgestone NZ donated the 1.2ha of land on Langdons Rd to the Christchurch City Council in 2010 for the project McMurtrie began.
Last year, two community plantings of thousands of dollars worth of native trees including Kahikatea and Totara took place with the support of local organisations. The plants were jointly funded by the city council, the Waipapa-Papanui-Innes Community Board and Rotary International.
On a recent visit to the Bridgestone Reserve McMurtrie was concerned to find a large number of weeds and grasses growing up around the plants.