Dunedin City Council parks officer Scott Maclean said the council hoped to have 3000 native shrubs planted on a 1.5ha area at Dalmore Reserve by the end of this month.
"If children have more involvement in planting they will remember they have an investment in the area and respect it. We hope they will be proud of their contribution and return with family in future," Mr Maclean said.
The council bought the 6ha reserve from the Dominican Friars in 1990. The area was previously planted in Douglas fir, which council felled to generate funds for the reserve project.
Mr Maclean hoped the reserve, which has panoramic views across Dunedin, would become a habitat attracting many native birds.
The council, with assistance from community and school groups and Task Force Green, would follow an ongoing planting plan.
The next stage was to plant species which would form a bush canopy, such as totara and rimu, once shrub species were established, he said.
