Spring has sprung and so have the weeds. Join Bass Coast Shire Council’s Weed ‘em and Reap program from 22 October to 26 November 2018 and earn indigenous plants for your efforts.

To help identify weeds in your garden, grab a copy of the Common Weeds of Gippsland brochure, available from Bass Coast Visitor Information Centres, Customer Service Centres, libraries or online. To earn some new plants, remove weeds from your property, grab an application form, list the weeds you removed and return the form by the due date. The brochure and application form can be found at www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/weedem. Weeds can be disposed of into your kerbside Organics (green-lid) bin.

Once your form has been received and processed, you will get a voucher telling you how many indigenous plants you have earned and where to collect them from. Then, fill your garden with gorgeous indigenous plants and do your bit for the local environment and natural habitat.

Council has committed to controlling invasive species across Bass Coast. Unfortunately, many of those weeds escape from backyards and end up in native reserves. Some of these include garden favourites – like Agapanthus, Sweet Pittosporum, Mirror Bush and Watsonia.

Residents can make a positive and lasting change by swapping weeds for native plants that flower all year round, provide food and habitat for native species and need less water and maintenance.

You too can become part of the solution, weeding one garden at a time.

For more information call Council’s Sustainable Environment Team on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211.