Pest plants for the chop
The loppers (plus poison and saws) are again out for old man’s beard in the Motueka Valley.
Volunteers involved in a valley-based weed busting corps, which formed late last summer were being called on once again to tackle the magnificent tangle of vines in an area of QEII covenanted bush on the West Bank Rd.
Organiser Lisa Hood said the informal group was in the throes of formalising its membership of WeedBusters NZ.
She called on volunteers to meet at 2184 West Bank Rd on Saturday August 27. Rain day would be Sunday. Bring gloves, loppers and secateurs – poison will be supplied (along with morning tea).
Hood said the group would meet monthly. It’s next project site would be in the Baton Valley where five families were willing to help volunteers.
Meanwhile, Golden Bay’s Project De Vine co-ordinator Chris Rowse said its volunteer teams would start work on the Motueka side of the Takaka Hill around October. The on-going work on eradicating banana passionfruit in Golden Bay would re-start in September, he said.
The two groups were closely tied with Rowse supporting the formation of the Motueka Valley weed busters and Project De Vine suppling the Motueka group with discounted poison from Waiheke Island’s Cut’n’Paste Weed Gels.