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Landcare is a non-governmental community movement dedicated to preventing land degradation and achieving sustainable land management. It consists of a network of local volunteer groups of which there are over 1700 in New South Wales alone. Each group works to find local solutions to local problems such as salinity, soil degradation, animal pests, weeds, vegetation loss, waterside erosion, poor water quality, coastal degradation and urban land degradation. If you appreciate how lucky we are in the Helensburgh district to enjoy a relatively unspoiled bush environment you should also be aware that it is under serious threat. read more

Giant reed


(Arundo donax)

FAMILY: POACEAE

ORIGIN: native of Southern Europe and Asia  

HABIT: small to medium upright, perennial grass

HABITAT: prefers wet soils such as riverbanks, drainage channels, watercourses and wastelands

IDENTIFYING FEATURES: small mid to bright green, lance-shaped leaves that taper to a point. Giant Reed grows to a height of 6m and leaves are arranged in two rows on lengthy tan-coloured stems, they are alternate and droop at the ends. The inflorescence is a dense panicle of creamy yellow spikelets that occurs in summer

FRUIT / SEED: by vegetative means only

UNDERGROUND STRUCTURE: lateral rhizomes

REMOVAL TECHNIQUES: small infestations can be controlled by digging out the rhizomes. Larger infestations can be cut to ground level and regrowth sprayed with 1:50 glyphosate

RESPONSE TO DISTURBANCE: rhizomes respond quickly after fire
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