A perfect solution to targeting invasive weeds at the Sinclair Wetlands has been found - kayaks.
The 315ha privately owned wetland on the Taieri Plain has problems with willows, gorse and wilding pines.
Wetland co-ordinator Glen Riley said it was the first time kayakers had been involved in weed control on the wetland and their ability to target plants that had grown since the last operation was crucial to keeping the wetland free of weeds.
''They were able to paddle up and deal with them one by one,'' he said.
About 14 kayakers took part, some working on the wetland's islands tackling broom.
Their numbers meant a ''massive'' amount of work had been done, he said.
''They've all done a great job.''
Their effort to tackle plant life on the wetland followed another last week, when eight volunteers spent the morning removing seeds from dried cabbage tree pods at the wetlands.
The seeds were sourced from the wetlands and, once germinated in trays, would be planted in the wetland.
''We are trying to put back the right plants back in the spot they belong,'' Mr Riley said.
After lunch, the volunteers, BNZ staff from the Balclutha and Otago University branches, and Canadian woman Quinn Andreychuk, who was staying in the wetland accommodation block in exchange for wetlands work, removed noxious weeds on Ram Island, where Green Island School pupils planted native seedlings in 2007-8.
Present pupils of the school visited the wetland last week to see the past pupils' plantings, Mr Riley said.
