Once upon a time, if someone mentioned weed in the context of a trip, I would have assumed they were planning a trip to Amsterdam. However, now that I’ve grown up, I see the word grass in a whole new light. But the annoying thing is that the more you learn about weeds, and the more proficient you become at recognizing the enormous range of weedy plants, the more power they have to ruin a perfectly pleasant walk, or a leisurely stroll. bike, or a good old-fashioned Sunday walk.

This is because weeds are everywhere. From urban areas to deep countryside. Once you realize the impact they can have on native flora and fauna, you won’t be able to walk past a clump of pod moths or a stand of tobacco weed without feeling a strong urge to rip it out. or cut it. and, ideally, glue his wicked stump.

My desire to wage war against various varieties of vexing vegetation began when I volunteered for an extreme weeding expedition to Auckland’s Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Besides having a truly peaceful day on a beautiful island, I was also taught how to identify the butterfly plant (Araujia hortorum) and learned how this perennial vine poses a threat to all other vegetation. I can easily recognize it as a tiny seedling, also when it climbs and when it flowers and once you know what you are looking for you start seeing it everywhere. As for their hanging green pods, which look a bit like chokos or sick feijoas on steroids, they are particularly problematic because each, if left to their own devices, can release thousands of fluffy seeds to the wind, spreading even more. of these suffocating vines. If nothing is done, the moth can have catastrophic ecological consequences.

Once the moth was on my radar, I began to become aware of other weeds, such as woolly nightshade (Solanum mauritianum), aka tobacco grass or kerosene plant. Besides smelling unpleasantly pungent, it can cause nasty skin irritations and spread like no other. Then there’s the old man’s beard (Clemitis vitalba), with its suffocating climbing vines; the periwinkle, the pretty blue-flowered strangler, and the cherry tree (Prunus avium), without forgetting the old thistles. Once you have weeds on your radar, you simply can’t leave the house without your gardening gloves, a pair of pruners or a small saw.

As my passion for weed eradication grew, I went so far as to sign up for a week-long weeding mission with a team called Wild Mob, now sadly disbanded. The tour party was apparently a week-long vacation on an island in the Hauraki Gulf, although our mornings were spent eradicating weeds, among them a voracious and fabulous thing called mile-a-minute (Persicaria perfoliata) which was choking one of the islands of The Noises group. The work was strenuous and sweaty, but it was also fun and meaningful to spend time with like-minded people who want to do more on their vacation than just lounge by a pool.

Today, I regularly participate in the weeding of the bees. Sometimes I don’t even wait for a bee I just find a little patch and stick to it because once you recognize the weeds you can’t just walk past them and pretend they aren’t not here. Not when you know what they are capable of.

In addition, I have also discovered that giving a helping hand to nature helps me feel better about the world and my place in it. More than ever, in these uncertain times, we need to harvest every ounce of positivity we can and, when you do the occasional good deed, whether it’s waging a war on weeds, planting trees, battling pests or simply picking up litter – followed by hearty hand sanitizing – your spirit lifts too.

So, until we can travel like we used to, why not spend some of your vacation time this year giving nature a helping hand? Picture this – a bulging bag filled with moth pods that have been prevented from spreading – probably not the memory you had in mind when dreaming of your 2022 travel adventures, but think how good it will be to use part of your valuable annual leave to help make the world a better place.

How to start

To learn how to recognize noxious plants in your neighborhood, visit weedbusters.org.nz/weed-information/weed-list

To join a weeding or tree planting expedition, you will find plenty of organizations that will welcome your help if you just Google “volunteer in nature”.

Motutapu Island: A lovely group of grassroots volunteers make regular weed-killing trips to this charming island in the Hauraki Gulf. To find out how to join, email: [email protected]

STAMP – Totally Against Moth Plant Company: This is one of my favorite Facebook pages. Celebrating 10 years of being fabulous this year, the members are so lively and positive, a group of really good people coming together to eradicate this voracious vine. facebook.com/groups/234572443294360

Friends of Oakley Creek / Te Auaunga: This group has accomplished so much in their patch between UNITEC and Waterview in Auckland, and they have helped restore beautiful bush paths that follow the stream to a majestic waterfall, complete with birds galore. The Friends take care of the weeding, pest control and planting. To join their regular worker bees on the first Sunday of every month, go to oakleycreek.org.nz

Tiritiri Matangi Island: This Hauraki Gulf treasure relies heavily on volunteers, whether they’re weeding, planting, grooming the trails, guiding, or helping out in the gift shop, because such an incredible island needs a lot of help. To find out where you could fit in, visit tiritirimatangi.org.nz or email [email protected]

Conservation Volunteers: It’s a fabulous organization where the philosophy is, everyone can make a difference to the health of our environment and society by planting and caring for native trees, eradicating pests and weeds, protecting endangered species and helping to make our natural spaces accessible to all. To get involved, visit: conservationvolunteers.co.nz

Restoration of Waitītiko/Meola Creek – STEPS: STEPS is an Auckland community group, protecting and restoring Waitītiko-Meola Creek, the waterway with the largest watershed in the Auckland Spit. facebook.com/STEPSNZ

Kapatiki project: With bases in Birkdale and Hobsonville, there are plenty of opportunities to get your hands dirty with this nature-loving group. Volunteering has just resumed for 2022, so visit kaipatiki.org.nz to join the fun.

For more travel inspiration, head over to newzealand.com/nz.

Check traffic light settings and Department of Health advice before traveling at covid19.govt.nz