Christchurch City Council rangers are collaborating with weed-control staff from other agencies to stem the spread of boneseed. As part of this effort, they are seeking volunteers to help cut out the plant in Cracroft Reserve on Cashmere.
Boneseed, or salt bush, was brought from South African as a garden plant and is now spreading rapidly throughout the country, crowding out other species. It thrives in even poor soil and dry coastal areas, burns easily and comes back even stronger after a fire. It is spreading alarmingly because birds eat and carry the seeds far and wide.
The shrub grows up to 3m, has dull-green toothed leaves are covered in a cottony down and its daisy-like flowers come in clusters from late winter until late summer. Each plant produces up to 50,000 hardy seeds a year.
The Canterbury Regional Pest Management Strategy includes removal of all existing plants from areas outside the Port Hills and a 20 per cent reduction of infested areas within the Port Hills area over the next 10 years.
gAt this stage the aim is to remove scattered boneseed plants and so contain it back to areas of large infestation. In places like Cashmere Spur we can stop it and make a difference,h says Port Hills Ranger Di Carter.
On Saturday, 10 September Council Rangers and staff from other agencies - Environment Canterbury, the Department of Conservation and Weedbusters - are organising a control effort at Cracroft Reserve, from 1-3.30pm. Please meet outside the toilet block at the Sign of the Takahe on Hackthorn Road and bring saws or loppers if you have them.
gGiven sufficient community, volunteer and agency support, this programme may be extended to other areas on the Port Hills,h Ms Carter says.
People wanting to know more about the pest management strategy and how different agencies are tackling the issue can come to a public meeting at the South Library on Colombo Street at 7pm on Wednesday, 7 September.
As well as discussion of control programmes on Raoul Island, Environment Canterburyfs Rob McCaw will talk about the Canterbury strategy, how the agencies are working towards its goals, and work being done by the Weedbusters organisation. Keith Briden from the Department of Conservation will present a case study of boneseed control at the Giantfs Nose.
œ For more information about the 10 September control day, call 941 8999
œ The City Councilfs weed guide is on the web at www.ccc.govt.nz/Parks/TheEnvironment/weedguide.asp
œ Information about the Regional Pest Management Strategy is on ECanfs site, at www.ecan.govt.nz/Our+Environment/Pests+and+Weeds/ and the Weedbusters site is www.weedbusters.org.nz/
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