Weed of the Month: Privet
Another prolific flowerer right now is privet. While its dark glossy green leaves allow this fast growing invader to hide in the background most of the time, the distinctive long clusters of cream coloured flowers are now very visible along our roadsides and in the bush.
Privet can survive for over 100 years and in a variety of challenging conditions including sun, shade, frost, salt, wind, damp, drought and damage. It can form dense stands that replace mid-canopy native trees and is a contributing allergy and asthma trigger for some people.
The Parua Bay Privet Buffer programme, which is a Community Pest Control Area run by Weed Action Native Habitat Restoration Trust, is in its fifth and "final" year (an extra half-year has been supported by Northland Regional Council). Under coordinator Jan Marshall, over 40 local landowners have contributed a lot of time and/or funds towards removing privet from their properties, with the aim to prevent greater infestation to the south and east of Parua Bay.
Are you one of those landowners? We'd love to hear from you about how you have found this experience and the work, perhaps you have some photos of the improvements removing privet has made to your property's native ecology? Send any thoughts or images to us at info@weedaction.org.nz
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