Date:  19 September 2019

This Saturday 21 September, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) and DOC are hosting a Weed Swap event as part of Conservation Week. People can bring along a weed they’d like identified and receive a native plant in exchange.

Darin Underhill, Team Leader Biosecurity Plant Pests, from HBRC, says some of the weeds threatening biodiversity in the Hawkes Bay include woolly nightshade, old man’s beard and wilding conifers. These weeds, if left unchecked, can smother and eventually totally dominate areas of rural land, backcountry or native forest. Enabling people to recognise and be aware of the potential consequences of letting these weeds run rampant, is part of the reason for running this weekend’s event, Darin said.

HBRC and DOC staff are looking forward to finding out just what types of weeds people bring to the event, help people identify these weeds and explain the threats they pose to our environment and what native species can be planted instead.

The event is being held on Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm at the Sound Shell, Marine Parade, Napier.

There’s a rumour that Woody Weed will also be along.

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