Group protecting last remaining tuart forest urges community to fight one of WA’s most pervasive weeds

Just two years ago the ground of the world’s only remaining tuart forest was a thick sea of toxic green weeds with delicate white flowers peaking though.

Arum lilies overran the endangered Ludlow Tuart Forest in 2022, choking out native plants and sterilising the forest floor.

But, after years of work, members of the Ludlow Tuart Forest Restoration Group are glad to see the weed mostly gone from their precious forest.

However, with winter in full swing the toxic weeds are beginning to show up again, group member Des Donnelly said.

“It is again that time of year when we need to be reminded that these noxious weeds must be controlled,” he said.

“LTFRG volunteer members have controlled arum lilies and many other weeds across more than half of the Ludlow Forest settlement lease area together.

“This is an ongoing annual task, and it needs willing and able volunteers to do the training.

“Get amongst the lilies with spray in hand to make a difference.”

Mr Donnelly said it was vital to stop the spread of arum lilies from again overrunning the precious landscape.

“There are many benefits to removing arum lilies,” he said.

“Wildlife and native vegetation returns, and groundwater availability increases.

“It can be done with dedicated effort, funding and follow up.

“To ignore this problem is only adding to the environmental degradation of our forests and their ability to regenerate.”