A WEED A WALK - WAY TO GO!

Landcaring with Lois (Simpson)

What a season we have had. Our bushland reserves have responded with healthy lush growth and the native plants are looking great. The downside is, so are the weeds! Sadly, the weed invasion ultimately degrades the bushland and throws out the balance of life. Try as we might, your local Landcare team cannot keep on top of them!

Luckily, we do not battle alone. There is quite an army of locals who come out to walk and enjoy our reserves, and quite a few of them have joined the battle by removing a weed (or two or more!) on every walk. What a gift. Never think that removing even just one weed is not worth the effort. If we can remove it before it seeds, then we have saved our bush from tens, or even hundreds more invaders next season. The Landcare adage rings true - "one year's seeding means seven years weeding".

It's a little action with a big impact! Become one of our growing number of walking weed warriors! 

Perhaps focus on one or two weeds that you may already recognise, such as 'farmers friends', formosa lilies, guinea grass or flea bane, and perhaps slip a small bag in your pocket in case there are seeds that need to be popped in the bin at home. And of course revel in the knowledge that you have added a little bending, stretching and flexibility movement to your exercise regime! ...and all the while helping to preserve our wonderful Aussie bushland for future generations.

This is Guinea Grass

Seeding prolifically and making the grassy verges look very weedy at the moment is Guinea grass, a fodder species that colonises roadsides causing problems when growing in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

(Guinea Grass image by John Sharples)

For the walking weeders Guinea Grass provides a calming pause as the seed head stalks slide out of their grassy grasping tubes in a very satisfying way. A fun activity to encourage little people to walk along as well. There’s a fine crop ready for the plucking on Excelsior Parade alongside the Wetlands.