Swap your weeds for native plants

Rotorua locals can swap weeds for free native plants this weekend.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff will be at the Rotary Market in Kuirau Park on Saturday giving away 300 native plants in exchange for weeds at its Weed Swap stall.

Land Management Officer Shane Hona said the annual stall is a way for council to raise awareness about weeds found in Rotorua and provide advice on how to stop them from growing back.

"We're particularly interested in any weeds that have popped up unexpectedly that people may not have noticed before so we can help identify them and talk about the benefits of planting native plants instead."

A range of native plants will be available at the Weed Swap stall including grasses, shrubs, and trees. Regional council staff will be at the Kuirau Park market from 8am-1pm on Saturday or until all the native plants are swapped.

To make the weeds easier to dispose of they should be contained in bags such as a black household rubbish bag.

For more media information please contact Hariata Ngatai, Marketing and Communications Advisor on 0800 884 880 or (027) 588 8170