The Northern Rivers region is home to a diverse number of native plants and animals, but its subtropical climate also provides ideal conditions for prolific growth of many environmental weeds.

This weekend, a Goonengerry resident will be teaching locals first hand techniques to turn weeds on their properties into native rainforest.

Patrick Morrissey bought a heavily weed infested vacant bush block cut off a dairy farm 20 years ago, but as a result of the property’s aspect and slope, it never grew good grass. He’s spent the last 20 years worked on regenerating the place.

“Really, the land just wanted to go back to forest. So, bit by bit I’ve been helping it do just that,” he says.

He said it’s a lifetime commitment, hard work but rewarding. “I don’t plant trees here anymore, but just try and create an environment for nature to do its thing. Now Council reckons it’s High Conservation Vegetation full of rare and threatened species. How times change,” he adds.

As part of Council’s Biodiversity Extension Service, a free workshop is scheduled this Sunday from 10am-1pm, for local landholders who want to get started on restoring habitat for native wildlife.

Council’s Biodiversity Extension Officer, Wendy Neilan, says the workshop is targeted at people who want to restore native vegetation on their property but aren’t sure where to start.

“Many of the landholders I work with who are relative newcomers to the Shire buy their piece of paradise not realising that the green vista before them is often a wall of weeds.

“How we manage patches of weedy regrowth is important as they provide habitat for native fauna and can contain many species of rare or threatened native plants.

Locals are welcome to attend. To book a place, contact Wendy Neilan at Byron Shire Council on 6626 7119.

Posted: Thursday August 28, 2008