3 Feb 2010

Needle grass sightings sought

1:35 pm on 3 February 2010

Canterbury Regional Council is asking people to be on the lookout for Chilean needle grass, during the summer.

The pest appears in its most recognisable form during the summer months. Plants look like a tall fescue grass in general appearance but at this time of year they have distinctive purple-tinged

seed heads.

The council says it's extremely difficult to eradicate and poses a threat to the viability of sheep farming, especially in the North Canterbury hill country.