A Month of Weed Cafes

Despite the hot, dry conditions throughout May 2025, our volunteers rolled up their sleeves over four consecutive Sundays. Our 1-HR Weed Cafés saw community members weeding, mulching and watering native plants at Jamieson Bay and the top of Ōpahi Bay Road, giving them the best chance of surviving the dry spell.

The prolonged lack of rain meant our young native plantings needed extra care. Weeds compete with young plants for limited water and nutrients, making regular maintenance especially important during dry weather. By removing competing weeds, applying a generous layer of mulch to retain soil moisture, and watering with added nutrients, volunteers helped reduce stress on the plants and improve their chances of establishing strong root systems.

Our 1-HR Weed Cafés continue to be a fantastic way for people to contribute, whether they’re regular volunteers or joining us for the first time. Spending just an hour outdoors not only makes a real difference to our restoration sites but is also a great opportunity to meet others in the community who share a passion for protecting our local environment.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us throughout the month. Every hour volunteered helps build healthier native forests that will provide habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife for generations to come.

Photograph below: MWP volunteers cleared the corner site of rubbish, kikuya and brush wood, back in October 2022.