Pit Park

This six and a half hectare site, in what is now an established residential area of Palmerston North, was once a Totara forest above loess and clay soil. The clay from the Pit was used by the Brick and Pipes Ltd. after they first opened in1890 to manufacture bricks and later field tiles. In order to meet local demands for bricks the owner R.P. Edwards built a Hoffman Kiln above the site in 1904. At its peak the kiln was producing 9,000 bricks a day.The final firing of the Hoffman Kiln happened in 1959. The clay pit gradually fell into disuse after this and became a wasteland. It was colonised by noxious weeds and used for rubbish dumping.

The pit is now being developed into a passive recreation space for the P.N. community. This is a community initiated project, with the Pit Park People (all volunteers) working in partnership with the Palmerston North City Council. The site is being planted with native species and most of the seeds and trees for this project are being sourced locally. The pit will also be a restored habitat to encourage native birds back into the urban environment..

You are invited to be a part of this project by growing plants, taking part in plantings,assisting with plant maintenance and working parties or anything else you may be able to help with.