Award Nominee

Richard Henty, a teacher at Botany Downs Secondary College has created a local project which is assisting with the control of Moth Plant. His highly organised approach has developed into a marvelous project over the last 4 or 5 years. Each Friday, a group of enthusiastic students pile in to the school van and cruise the eastern districts of Auckland in search of this problem weed. Where possible the weed is removed and informative brochures distributed to landowners/occupiers to help them spot any further plants. Richards commitment over these years has intensified. He maps all sites so that follow up work is practical and easy to achieve. The students that work with Richard pick up on the passion that he brings to his work. Richard lives in East Auckland and began to notice the abundance of Moth Plant during his bike rides to work, it sparked his idea to form a group.

I would like to see this project nominated in 2 categories,

1/ Recognising Richards clever and long term approach to the problem and acknowledging his ability to engage others in the problem solving.

2/ The project itself which runs through the school enviro group.

Excerpt below from School website.

Moth Plant Removal

As part of the Enviroschools Group co-curricular commitment, students are being asked to participate in the removal of the invasive vine called moth plant. Moth plant is a vine that grows from a wind-blown seed. The vine climbs to the top of hedges, fences and trees to get sun.

It forms flowers in summer, and pollination allows the pod to form and grow. The pod dries out in winter, splits open, then dry seeds float in the breeze like dandelion seeds. Each pod has 300 seeds. Moth plant has pairs of leaves along the stem, with a white irritant sap that can be observed if you pull a leaf off.

Killing a moth plant is best done if you can dig the root out of the ground. The vine dehydrates and dies. Cutting the vine is second best, which stops it that year, but you will have to return next year. New vines grow out of a living stump. If pods are there, they too must be removed, bagged up and sent to landfill burial.

Each location of moth plant is mapped, so a file of where they are can be monitored. The street name and number are useful details to pass on to Mr Henty at [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] or you can join the Facebook group called Society Totally Against Moth Plant for more information.

Pulling out moth plant, or searching for more locations for later removal, is highly recommended. There may be some in your garden perhaps.