Waiheke businesses are taking up the Weedbusters challenge, by adopting areas of roadside where weeds have taken over, and transforming them into weedfree spaces.

While Auckland City Council maintains a strip closest to the roadside, neighbouring residents tend to take care of their verges outside their homes. Waiheke’s ‘adopt a verge’ initiative gives businesses the opportunity to provide TLC to otherwise ‘ownerless’ areas, and be involved in a worthwhile community project.

The first verges were adopted in May this year. Already there is a marked difference at the sites being looked after by I-Mech Machinery Ltd, Scapes, Quality Waiheke, and Angelwood Landscaping. Waiheke Forest and Bird have also adopted an area.