Pultenaea targeted by Weed Action volunteers

ENVIRONMENT

PIROA-BRYNDERWYNS LANDCARE GROUP

7 Nov, 2022

In September a group of keen volunteers put their combined energies into the removal of Pultenaea in an area of bush at Marunui Conservation. Also known as Australian bush pea, this weed has been identified by Northland Regional Council as requiring containment and reduction over time.

Pultenaea (Pultenaea daphnoides) is a medium-sized shrub that can grow to three metres tall. Its pea-like flowers are yellow with red-pink markings in the centre, and are followed by flat pods. It’s fast-growing and resistant to drought and frost. One bush can generate hundreds of seedlings and it has the potential to invade gumland, shrubland, open road banks, cliffs and other lower fertility sites, and capable of causing adverse environmental effects on our native forest.

Organised by Weed Action Piroa-Brynderwyns in conjunction with Marunui Conservation, a group of eight armed with hand forks, secateurs and pruning saws set off at 9am on a September morning up the steep slopes of Pa Hill to tackle this invasive pest.

Weed Action coordinator Ronny Haynes, and Marunui Conservation’s John Hawley led the way.

At Marunui, Pultenaea is present in a defined area of manuka shrubland and along the edges of tracks. The volunteers worked as individuals or in pairs, some tackling the larger bushes while others concentrated on smaller plants and seedlings. Rain prior to the weekend had softened the ground sufficiently to enable smaller plants to be pulled out.

Over four hours later the group packed up their tools and made their way back to enjoy a delicious lunch of savouries, cheeses and a large pot of soup provided by Weed Action.

“The lunch was well deserved, we covered a sizeable area and working on some steep slopes was not for the faint hearted,” said John Hawley. “Those helping definitely earned the title of ‘weed warriors’.”

The following day a smaller group went out, and over the weekend a total of 44 hours were contributed.

“We’ve now been doing this work for four years and there will be other opportunities next year,” adds John. “The Northland Regional Council has funded contractors to work in the most difficult areas while we manage the remainder. Marunui is extremely grateful to Weed Action and those who put their hands up to help.”

One Pultenaea bush can generate hundreds of seedlings and has the potential to invade gumland, shrubland, open road banks, cliffs and other lower fertility sites.