Hunting out shady characters
2 September 2015
Hunting out shady characters
A three-strong team of specialist abseilers has been used by Waikato Regional Council to support landowners to clear around 100 woolly nightshade plants from a riverside area in Hamilton city.
The work, involving abseiling down steep banks, was done over one day recently on the riverside opposite the Malcolm St beach in Hillcrest.
Woolly nightshade is an invasive pest plant that outcompetes and suppresses native vegetation. Dealing to the plants involved cutting them down with a saw and painting the stumps with herbicide.
The work, aimed at
helping restore native habitat by keeping on top of imported
pest plants,
was part of a winter pest plant control
programme in Hamilton City to clear gullies and riverside
areas.
Control of woolly nightshade is the
responsibility of landowners under the regional pest
management plan.
“One of our aims is to support the
efforts of private landowners by carrying out control in
difficult to access sites and other selected spots,” said
pest plants biosecurity officer Hamish Hodgson.
People who want advice on controlling woolly nightshade can call the council on 0800 800 401.
ends