Warkworth Amnesty Bags HEAPS of weeds
Aggies bagged - and binned - as part of Warkworth’s War on Weeds
Weedbusting in Warkworth is on a roll, with weekend weed amnesties and weeding bees being run by locals as part of their ‘War on Weeds’ initiative.
Bins funded by Rodney Local Board of the Auckland Council were provided at the Warkworth Showgrounds, and council staff and keen Weedbusters were on hand to help identify weeds and provide advice on their control and disposal.
As an added incentive, a free native tree was swapped for every rubbish bag of weeds brought in. over the day, a heap of weeds were bagged - and binned - by keen locals, including agapanthus, wild ginger, climbing asparagus, bamboo and pampas.
One dedicated lady even brought in a couple of rubbish bags full of African club moss - and if you have seen this tiny plant, you will appreciate how much effort was involved in weeding out this much plant material for disposal!
Volunteers on the day reckoned there was one car coming in to drop off weeds every ten minutes - and sometimes a trailer too. Once the bin was full and no more space could be made by jumping up and down on the dumped weed material inside, they just started heaping up the bagged weeds to be taken away as well.
For the next Weed Amnesty on 24 May, the number of bins that will be on site will be increased to cope with the demand.
But it’s not just about weeding out troublesome plants in gardens. Monthly weeding bees at various locations where natural areas are threatened with these invaders are also being organized - check out events here for more information on how you can get involved.
A big ‘well done’ to Patte and Roger Williams and the team of local residents who were involved, as well as Jane and Chris from Auckland Council - and of course, the Rodney Local Board, who recognized that this was a community issue that needed action. What a great effort all round!