Weeds....we all know and HATE them, some more so than others. But whether we like it or not it is the never ending story and battle trying to get these nasty things under control.
Being a secluded haven than New Zealand is with high levels of endemism and nativity, weeds or pest plants are a major issue but there are some that are worse than others however...and part of the survey on school grounds is checking to see if any of the major bad boys are present.
The most common weed I have seen at schools is none other than Wooly Nightshade, Solanum mauritianum. This is a uber nasty plant that can lead to itchy rashes, difficulty breathing and produces poisonous berries. Not exactly the type of plant we want around our children.
But we can't put all the blame on schools, there is a need for a better understanding around pest plant identification, removal and mitigation. As most things it starts with the communities. Every school that has had WN the same plant has been visible in the properties next door - emphasising the need for collaboration and schools and communities working together in the war on weeds.
Spreading the word (not the plant!) about how to identify and remove WN is key to protecting New Zealand's precious plant life and make sure we are not exposing our kids physically but also intellectually to this weed. It is not something anyone should be used to seeing in their neighbourhoods or at school.
Arohanui
p.s DOC has some great information about how to get rid of these plants!
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