Locals band together to tackle pests and litter in Manukau bush

Ripu Bhatia Reporter from Community News

A Manukau woman is being awarded for her efforts in trapping pests and cleaning up rubbish in the Totara bush.

Katherine Clayton has organised a regular meet up of locals to tend to the 20 bush reserves in Totara Heights which suffer from litter and pests.

“There are big problems with rubbish that blows in, and rats and possums also live here,” she said.

“There are pest plants that smother the ground so that new seedlings can’t come up.”

Clayton said she was “blown away” by the news she had won in the local hero category in the Keep New Zealand Beautiful awards.

“I was speechless, I didn’t know I had been nominated,” she said.

“It’s just something I’ve got a passion for and it’s been really fulfilling.”

Clayton has always tended to the bush around her own property, which she has lived at for 22 years.

But she believes if the community binds together they can have a larger impact.

“Let’s come together and focus on a couple of areas of bush,” she said.

“We’ll get the rubbish out and the weeds up and talk about predator control.”

The next clean-up day will depend on lockdown restrictions but is booked for September 26.

Locals who are interested in helping out can contact Clayton through the Totara Heights Bush Guardians Facebook page.