Friends of Bullock Creek Trust (FOBC) is ‘gunning for gunnera’, undertaking a targeted weed eradication project attacking the pest weed gunnera tinctoria along Bullock Creek.

Since mid-February, with funding from Central Lakes Trust and the cooperation of local landowners along the creek and its tributaries, FOBC trust contractors Paul van Klink

and Ed Astin have removed approximately eight trailer-loads of gunnera.

Gunnera has been found in at least 23 different sites along Bullock Creek, exceeding the 18 original sites GPS-located by Otago Regional Council (ORC).

A statement from FOBC said the organisation wants to hear from residents who think they have gunnera growing on their property.

“Together we can all help to manage the pest species gunnera in the name of waterway and native ecosystem health and amenity,” FOBC said.

Gunnera is a prolific weed, designated a National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) plant and a Department of Conservation-identified environmental weed in New Zealand.

Because they can grow up to 2.5m tall and their leaves can be one-to-two metres wide, they shade-out and out-compete native plants for light and space.

“Unfortunately when gunnera gets to these sizes, the permanent removal of these plants can be very difficult to manage, meaning their removal and management when in the newer

stages of growth is the ideal time to tackle this monster plant,” FOBC said.

Anyone who believes they have gunnera on their property can contact [email protected] or Paul van Klink on 021 056 9146 to discuss gunnera removal options.

PHOTO: FOBC