Getting Your Hands on Weeds
Practical workshop on weed identification and control techniques.
Capacity building
The issue
Weeds are an ongoing issue for land managers, both public and private and new weeds will continue to be introduced from gardens and nurseries and spreading into ever threatened bushland areas. While herbicide spraying can be effective it can also have off target effects and can result in worse outcomes than leaving the site as it was.
The solution
Hunter Region Landcare Network in partnership with Hunter Local Land Services and Cessnock City Council delivered a training workshop to to give landholders training in weed identification and hands on experience with Bush Regeneration techniques.
Techniques discussed were cultural techniques (change of land management to outcompete the weeds), biocontrols, chemical use techniques and manual removal. Discussions included "natural" versus artificial and selective versus non selective herbicides, minimal disturbance, prioritisation and the importance of understanding your weeds.
Tools demonstrated included rope saws, "Peter levers", "Tongs of Death", poisoning axes and Tree Poppers.
The impact
Eleven landholders from around the area attended and had the opportunity to practice bush regeneration techniques including cut and paint, scrape and paint, hand removal and "tree popping" under the supervision of Terry Inkson, Weeds Officer, Cessnock City Council, Paul Melehan (Upper Hunter Landcare Coordinator) and Meg Drinan (Mid Hunter Landcare Coordinator) all of whom have experience and training in Bush Regeneration. Weeds targeted on the day included four species of Asparagus fern, Small and Large Leaf Privet, Camphor Laurel, Mickey Mouse Plant, Fishbone Fern and Senna.
Participants got to know and understand the role of the local weeds officer.