What we do
Plant My Berm is a new community initiative designed to optimse residential berms in Palmerston North with free native plantings. Our mission is to improve stormwater absorption, create urban pollinator habitats, and bolster sponge city infrastructure in this flood-prone area. Residents are invited to request a planting, where they’ll receive a personalized design tailored to their space, along with the opportunity to participate in a rewarding community planting experience. Additionally, we offer an optional low-cost "Add an Edible" feature, promoting urban food infrastructure and security.
This project is proudly brought to you by the Kahuterawa Valley Regeneration Club and the dedicated mother-daughter team behind 'Palmy Homegrown', with generous funding from Horizons Regional Council through their Pūtea Hapori Urupare Āhuarangi - Community Climate Response Fund. Join us in making Palmerston North greener and more resilient!
Why get a berm garden?
Boost stormwater absorption in your street
Build urban pollinator habitats
Reduce mowing and berm maintenance
Contribute Sponge City infrastructure
to flood-prone areas
Support local food production systems
'Add an edible' optional extra (for a small fee)
What's involved?
There's just three steps to getting your free berm garden - and we do all the work for you.
1.
Site visit & assessment
2.
Choose from two custom designs
3.
Your berm gets planted
The Fine Print
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To be eligible, you must own property with a grass berm, or provide the owner's consent if you are renting.
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All designs will be in accordance with Palmerston North City Council's Vegetation Framework and Berm Garden Guidelines, to ensure compliance with local planning provisions. Some berms are required by Council to be kept clear of vegetation; these will be inelegible.
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Berm gardens can be removed by new owners if the property is sold - we cannot ensure they will remain in place in perpetuity.
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All possible care will be taken to avoid subterranean infrastructure and cables where these locations are known. ​
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Planted berms will be recorded at a suburb level on our spatial mapping tool, which tracks the progress of sponge city infrastructure across the city. Street level information will not be made public.
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We are required to report back to our funders about the project's success. If your berm is planted, we ask for a before and after photo to include in our report, and an exit survey to be completed after the garden has been installed.
