Download documentation below for 2021 Blackberry Landholder Workshop Series
South West Collaborative Declared Weed Management Scheme
Although we love a jam tart, forget Blackberry Jam because that prickly bush with the juicy dark fruit is not so sweet at all.
In fact, it’s classed as a Weed of National Significance (WONS) and as such, is one of the ten most detrimental weeds in Australia. Its benefits as a food source are economically outweighed by the destruction it causes to riverine systems and farmland because it has a rampant ability to ‘take over’.
The Leschenault Catchment Council were engaged to manage a collaborative project to control blackberry across the catchment in 2021. This was an important opportunity to follow-up on significant control works undertaken over the last decade through the Blackberry Buffer Zone Project. Blackberry can spread vigorously in waterways where it can prevent native plants from growing due to its smothering nature. It is known to harbour pest animals such as foxes, rabbits and pigs; and can spread into farming properties adjacent to the waterways creating issues on productive land.
Through funding received from the Communities Combating Pests and Weed Impacts During Drought program, three Shires: Collie, Dardanup and Donnybrook-Balingup worked in partnership with each other as well as other key stakeholders across the catchment to map the extent of blackberry and to implement control works on key areas.
While the project did not aim to eradicate blackberry from the catchment, it did provide a significant contribution to overall blackberry management and reduce the impact that the weed is having on natural areas and productive land.
We welcomed contact from landholders who are impacted by blackberry to allow us to plan and prepare our areas of focus. While we weren’t able to get out to every property, we did strategise in 2021 and implemented works on targeted areas to get the best on-ground outcome possible with the resources available.
The project benefited farmers, the general community, the environment and people who use the rivers for recreation.
