Maylands: Newly-formed Berringa Park Friends Group calling for more volunteers

NEWLY-formed Berringa Park Friends Group aims to work with the City of Bayswater to create an ongoing weed reduction plan.

The group was officially launched on December 9.

Berringa Park in Maylands has been prone to invasive and noxious weeds including Brazilian pepper trees, castor oil trees, arum lilies and blackcurrant.

Coordinator Greg Pound said the group was formed as part of a program where he completed a project on pepper trees.

“I purchased a unit in Maylands in 1998 and lived in the unit for about the last five years,” he said.

“Over the 20 years, I have noticed more and more noxious weeds growing on the banks of the Swan River.

“My project was the catalyst for getting involved and doing something about it.

“I found there where a number of friends of groups along the river but none that where operating in Berringa Park.”

Mr Pound’s vision was to create a “community that cares” to work together to control and eradicate introduced noxious weeds and regenerate the natural vegetation.

“We will be working with City of Bayswater to create a ongoing weed reduction plan, along with taking up an advisory role for weed removal and replanting,” he said.

He said the group was looking for more volunteers, work day leaders and helpers and a social media specialist.

The group will be running monthly weeding and planting days, busy bees and forming relationships with other friends of groups in 2019.