Rotarians attack Old man's beard

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 391, 18 June 1991, Page 1

Rotarians attack Old man's beard

Rotary have taken on the job of helping with the eradication of old man's beard (Clematis vitalba) as a major project over the next five years.

Rotarians will spend about 150 man hours this year cutting down the vines with follow-up spraying of roundup for the next four years in the hope of eradicating the noxious plantfrom the area. Last Wednesday Joe Martin, Manawatu Wanganui Regional Council noxious plant officer, presented a paper to the Raetihi-Ohakune Rotarians asking if they could help with the eradication. On Saturday the Rotarians were on the job. There are 32 known sites of old man's eard in the Waimarino area. "If anyone knows of infestations in the area please contact me on 58638 as we would really like to eradicate it," said Mr Martin. "We don't want it to get away like it has at Taihape." Old man's beard has

only recently been gazetted as a noxious

plant in the Waimarino. Over the last five years Department of Conservation staff and Mr Martin have been working to control Old Turnpage2

Old man's beard

From page 1 Man's Beard. In the mid eighties there were 24 DOC staff at Ohakune and now there are only four. Even with the reduced staff DOC has spent 39 man hours on old man's beard control this year. "We have been working on it as we were really concerned about it even though it wasn't gazetted a noxious plant," said Mr Martin. "Without the help of a group such as Rotary eradication of old man's beard is out of the question. At best we might been able to control jt."