Award Nominee

Johnson Reserve is a beautiful area in Tauranga bordering Waipuna Park, with a total area of over 50 ha. It has been developed over the past 30 years with mainly native plantings. Five years ago our group started its Weedbusting efforts as although The Tauranga Council has contractors tidying the edges, the inner bush was full of weeds like woolly nightshade, gorse, wild cherries, Japanese honeysuckle and blackberry.

The group has 3 hardcore members who work once a week removing weeds and then also runs bigger weekend working bees for weeding and planting with trees supplied by the Council.

Up until recently the group was very informal and would decide on the day which area to work in. The Council have now given out guidelines and notice of spraying must be given to the public, so we have had to become more organised and plan in advance where we’ll be working.