Waging war on woody weeds workshop

Join Nature Conservation Margaret River Region and local weed guru Rick Ensley of MR Naturals in learning how to successfully identify and control some of our most invasive woody weeds.

These woody weeds, such as Sydney Golden Wattle, Flinders Range, Sweet Pittosporum, Olives and Blackwood, are actively reducing unique biodiversity values by degrading habitat, outcompeting native plants, choking waterways, modifying the floristics, structure and nutrient status of ecosystems. High priority WW species are particularly damaging as they invade very good condition bushland spread large distances from parent plants retain viable seed within the soil for long periods.

Additionally, In the many of the rural residential areas in Margaret River and surrounds woody weeds such as Flinders Range and Sydney Golden Wattle have been widely used as screening and hedging plants – these are acting as a seed source for surrounding bushland and the nearby river reserve. These woody weeds do not provide the full suite of habitat and biodiversity values that our incredible local native plants do.

The workshop will include a walk and talk with expert Rick Ensley followed by a practical demonstration on how to control these species on your property. We will also be discussing what to plant instead for screening that is beautiful, effective, fast-growing and beneficial to biodiversity.

There will be a range of plant samples of species not seen on the day to further aid in building your identification of woody weeds. Participants are encouraged to bring their own samples and photos of species they are not sure of.

Meet at Zani Place in Margaret River.