Alice Springs Landcare volunteers have been tackling weed cacti that are invading bushland areas around Eastside. On Sunday the 25th of August Landcare volunteers completed the 3rd cactus control field day of the year.
These weed cacti are colonising the rocky hills by shedding small branchlets, or segments, which take root and form new plants. Hooked or barbed spines enable the segments to attach to animal fur increasing its ability to spread. With gloves, buckets and tongs volunteers scour the hills collecting all cacti parts that are taken directly to landfill for burial. So far approximately 560 kg of cactus has been removed after 66 volunteers hours.
All the Coral cactus has now been removed from Spencer Valley, and the groups efforts are heading east towards Cavenagh Cres, Burke St and Kurrajong Drive.
A survey conducted by Conservation and land management students with Batchelor Institute confirmed the location of 3 species of Cylindropuntia cacti in this area. These are Coral Cactus (Cylindropuntia fulgida var. mamillata), Devils Rope (Cylindropuntia imbricata), and Jumping Cholla (Cylindropuntia prolifera).
Stay tuned for the next cactus control field day and come lend a hand.