Workshops to help war on weeds

 

Popular free annual workshops offering Northlanders tips on how to tackle some of the worst weeds threatening our region will be on offer again shortly.

Councillor Joe Carr, who chairs the Northland Regional Council's Environmental Management Committee, says the three-hour workshops will be run by council biosecurity specialist Sara Brill from Monday July 27.

It will be the fifth year the council has held the popular workshops.

This year council will visit Paparoa, Kerikeri, Coopers Beach and Whangarei.

Every year up to 200 people take advantage of the opportunity to learn how to better manage weeds (both land and freshwater-based) either on their own land, or properties they manage for others.

Over 20 weeds are covered, including wild ginger, lantana and moth plant – and will also include the serious freshwater weeds salvinia and water hyacinth.

Workshops will include a short presentation, hands-on identification tips and information on control options, including chemicals and other methods.

The first workshop will be held at Paparoa Memorial Hall, Monday July 27, followed the next day in Kerikeri at the St John Ambulance Hall, Kerikeri Rd and then at the St John Ambulance Hall, St John Rd, Coopers Beach on Wednesday July 29.

Thursday July 30 will see workshops at the regional council's Water St, Whangarei offices.

Two separate three-hour workshops will be held at each weekday venue: one from 9am-noon and the other in the afternoon from 1-4pm but numbers are limited to about 30 people each time so registration is essential.

One final weekend workshop will be held in Whangarei on the morning of Saturday August 1, 9am-noon, for those who might not have been able to make any weekday events.

Councillor Carr says the workshops are a great opportunity for people to plan ahead and get ready for the busy weed knockdown period once winter ends.

General information on pests in Northland is available from the council's website nrc.govt.nz/pestmanagement.

n Keen to attend? Contact Sara Brill on (09) 470 1162 or freephone (0800) 002 004 to register or learn more about the workshops to be held Monday July 27 to Saturday August 1, from either 9am until noon or 1pm-4pm each day.


POPULAR: Around 200 people take advantage of NRC weed workshops each year.