Further Developments in Crown Park Gully

Crown Park Gully is a place where the community comes together. In 2026, it continues to bring people of all ages side by side to care for and improve the area.

Students from Tauhara College are taking part through their Duke of Edinburgh programme. They are getting stuck into the physical work - spreading mulch to enrich the soil and pulling out ivy that has taken over in places and is smothering native plants. Through this, they are giving back to the community while helping create a space they can feel proud of and take ownership of.

A junior class from Tauhara Primary has invited Kids Greening Taupō to help set up a bush school. They plan to visit the gully each week to explore, learn, and connect with nature. They will not just be visiting-they will be helping both the land and themselves. Each visit builds their understanding, confidence, and connection to the environment.

Tawa Street Preschool continues to play an important role. Since 2022, they have visited regularly, supported by Kids Greening Taupō coordinator Heidi. Through planting, weeding, and predator control, they have helped shape the space over time. Their commitment shows what can happen when people keep turning up and taking responsibility for a place.

Crown Park Gully has never been just one group’s project. It has always been a shared space, with early learners, primary students, and college students all contributing in their own ways.

What is changing now is what the gully represents. It is becoming a living classroom, a meeting place, and a space where the community can connect-not just with nature, but with each other. You can read more about this project here.