WeedFree in our community
 
WeedFree Trust works with a wide range of individuals and groups in Waitakere City to foster awareness of the threats posed by invasive weeds to our native ecosystems
 
 
Contact WeedFree Trust on 09 826 4276 if you are interested in any of the projects below...
 
Community Projects
 
War on Weeds Throughout March Waitakere City residents can deposit invasive weeds in jumbo bins placed at about 16 locations around the city. War on Weeds also supplies up to 10 weed bags free to residents and for a small fee, huge weed matting containment bags and 200-litre drums for composting and neutralising weeds on site.
 
In 2007 residents removed over 120 tonnes of weeds to landfill - the War on Weeds project, however, promotes dealing with weeds on site wherever possible. WeedFree Trust administers War on Weeds on behalf of Keep Waitakere Beautiful.
 
Mentoring neighbourhood groups Groups of three or more property owners, wishing to work cooperatively on invasive weed control, can approach the WeedFree Trust and receive advice on: setting up meetings, accessing Waitakere City Council (WCC) Green Network subsidies and applying for funding assistance.
 
Successful outcomes of the mentoring programme for 2007 included:
  • $10,000 from the Auckland Regional Council's Environmental Initiative Fund (EIF) toward wild ginger and blue morning glory control in South Titirangi
  • $3,000 from the EIF for invasive weed control in a West Coast Road neighborhood
The mentoring programme is funded as part of WeedFree Trust's work with WCC.
 
Volunteers WeedFree Trust works with a range of volunteers including IHC, The Church of Latter Day Saints, the Chinese community, neighborhood groups and private individuals. The Trust also hosts overseas volunteers as interns. In 2007 two German volunteers helped out for several months.
 
Volunteers work on a variety of projects including helping those that require additional assistance, stream side restoration, cutting giant reed and running bamboo for elephants at the Auckland Zoo, working in schools and assisting WeedFree staff on research and development projects.
 
Work with Corrections WeedFree Trust usually has at least one Corrections worker assisting operations year round. Our Corrections arrangements often involve large groups for concerted assaults on weeds infesting public property. However, a new scheme being trialed for small groups of offenders, has allowed WeedFree to extend the assistance we can provide in the community, even on private property.
 
Continuing Education Each year the Trust runs several workshops through Rutherford College Continuing Education. These free workshops are usually held at the Ranui and Glen Eden Libraries. Property owners are invited to bring along any weed issues to the three-hour sessions. Topics usually cover weed identification and management, and native planting.
 
 
 
 
 
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