INVASIVE weeds such as tagasaste, blackberry and watsonia growing on the Mining Heritage Walk Trail will be targeted in a weed reduction programme by the Greenbushes Discovery Centre, which maintains and manages the trail.
The weed project is being funded by a State Natural Resource Management Community Action Grant of more than $7000 and seeks to control and contain weeds on the trail, which is in State Forest near the Greenbushes town site.
The Blackwood Basin Group (BBG) is assisting with the project by mapping the types and location of weed species along the trail.
BBG project officer Kristen Mappen and community volunteer Felicity Littleton have been surveying the trail and using a GPS to record the location of weed infestations.
Weed control measures will include the application of chemicals and manual removal.
"We want people to enjoy our walk trails and in particular we want them to see the forest without weed infestations."
- Greenbushes Discovery Centre chairman Pat Scallan.
Greenbushes Discovery Centre chairman Pat Scallan said weeds had a big impact on the natural forest environment around Greenbushes because they could out-compete the endemic vegetation and reduce food stores for native animals and birds.
“Greenbushes is surrounded by forest. It is important that we raise community awareness about the types of weeds we are finding and the damage they cause,” he said.
“In particular we are concerned about the tagasaste, blackberry and watsonia on our trails and we want to do something about it.
“We want people to enjoy our walk trails and in particular we want them to see the forest without weed infestations,” he said.
Mr Scallan said the Greenbushes Discovery Centre would also assist with hosting a public workshop on weeds in association with the Blackwood Biodiversity Group.
The three kilometre Mining Heritage Walk Trail traverses forest to the east and south of the Greenbushes town site and includes remnant historic mine shafts and an old mine tunnel.
It is one of three forest walk trails and a town heritage amble maintained by the Greenbushes Discovery Centre.
