Weed Swap is a joint initiative of the Australian Native Plants Society and the Department of Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS) to encourage ACT residents to remove woody weeds from their gardens, safely dispose them and select free Australian native plants as an alternative to grow in the gardens.
When: every year in spring and autumn
Next Weed Swap: Weekend 31 March / 1 April 2012 from 8.30am to 4.45pm
What to do: Remove the woody weeds from your garden and bring the remains to the green waste recycling centre at either Canberra Sand and Gravel in Belconnen or Corkhill Brothers near Mugga Lane tip. Visit the swap stall at these locations and receive an Australian replacement plant of your choice. The plants are clearly labelled and volunteers will offer planting and care advice. For further information click on this WeedSwap 2012 pamphlet (pdf 561KB)
A hedge of firethorns, Pyracantha sp. at the footslope of Mt Majura. The hedge has been removed since the photograph was taken in February 2010. Firethorns are spread by birds which eat the fuits and spread the seeds with their droppings. (Photograph Waltraud Pix, 18.02.2010)
Target species for removal: Cotoneaster, Firethorn, Privets and Brooms.
Free replacement plants: There are a range of ground-covers, clumping plants, small, medium and larger shrubs and a few trees available such as Wattles, Bottlebrushes, Correas, Grevilleas and Boobialla.
Enquiries: Phone Canberra Connect on 132281 or the Weed Swap co-ordinator on 62584724
View some of the common woody weeds that occur within the Mount Majura Nature Reserve at the FoMM Woody Weeds Flickr Group: click here