Help tackle Old Man’s Beard

Over the past three months, the Motueka Catchment Collective, along with local community groups, have made significant strides in combating the hard-to-control weed Old Man’s Beard in several areas of Motueka.

Old Man’s Beard is an invasive vine that poses a serious threat to our local forests, growing rapidly in large clumps and smothering native plants, from the highest trees to the little seedlings on the ground.

In August, the Motueka Catchment Collective kicked off its first ‘BIG’ community weeding event, where volunteers, including members of the Nelson Trout Fishing Club and members of the Brooklyn BOMB Squad, participated in weeding, poisoning, and cutting Old Man’s Beard to curb its growth and aggressiveness at a site near native bush in the Motueka Valley.

Encouraged by their progress, the Motueka Catchment Collective is organising a second ‘BIG’ community weeding event on Sunday, 10 November, which will continue efforts to remove Old Man’s Beard from native trees near Haycocks Bush and are looking for volunteers to support their efforts.

Notably, some areas in Tasman, such as Golden Bay/Riwaka and the St Arnaud/Upper Buller regions, remain largely free of this invasive weed. This initiative not only aims to restore native flora but also promotes the health of local streams and rivers, enhancing community well-being.

“It’s wonderful to see such proactive community action at our first event” Bruce Stare from the Motueka Catchment Collective’s Pest Management Group says.

“While many vines have been cut and treated, there is still much to be done. We would love to see more volunteers at our second event to help tackle this major weed problem.”