Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz

If you have a garden you'll be very familiar with weeds and the way they can take over if not managed. However, they don't just affect our gardens – they also impact our native bush.

At this time of year we can see the pink blossom of the Taiwanese cherry trees all through the native bush in the Western Bay of Plenty.

These trees are very attractive to tui and spread very easily. The control of Taiwanese cherry is the responsibility of the land owner and it would take a concerted effort on behalf of all landowners to stop its spread.

In reality this won't happen because it's spread into areas where eradication is no longer practicable.

Another problem weed, which is affecting native bush in the Western Bay, is woolly nightshade. And it seems progress is being made in its control.

Woolly nightshade is a problem because it can crowd out more desirable pasture and forest plants.

It's covered in fine hairs, which can cause skin, eye, nose and throat irritations for people and stock, which come into contact with it.

In 2010, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council released 300 lace bugs on a 70 hectare site in Welcome Bay, which had heavy woolly nightshade infestation.

The lace bugs feed on the leaves of woolly nightshade, drying them out and stunting the growth of the plant.

This prevents plant reproduction, reducing spread, and can eventually cause the plant to die.

This year heavy damage was noted in the woolly nightshade in this block, especially in shaded areas.

As result, further lace bugs will be released in other areas – particularly pine plantations, where woolly nightshade is a problem.

However, traditional control by landowners will still be needed. It isn't possible to supply lace bugs for use on all properties in the Bay of Plenty.

But once established in our worst affected areas, the bugs should help reduce large weed infestations and will disperse naturally onto surrounding properties during time.

Information on controlling woolly nightshade and other weeds is available at www.boprc.govt.nz/pestplants or by calling a regional council land management officer on 0800 884 880.

If you have views on this, or any other issue, you can email me at neesj@xtra.co.nz or ring me on 07 579 5150.