Pest plant swap meet goes down a treat
Locals at recent weekend markets walked away delighted and a lot more biosecurity conscious – all they had to do was pop along to Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC) stands with a pest weed and swap it for a free native plant.
At the two events, BOPRC biosecurity staff gave away 360 native plants while engaging with people about what grows in their gardens and controlling weeds, before they become a bigger problem to themselves, their neighbours, and other land areas. There was pleasant surprise that the plants were able to be swapped at no cost, and great feedback about how positive the initiative is for the community.
The BOPRC says the events have been a great way to connect with the community, raise awareness about protecting native plants and environments from unwanted threats, and provide advice about how to identify weeds and other unusual pests or disease symptoms.
Follow the BOPRC Facebook page for more information about similar upcoming events.