THE Wyndham community is being urged to lend a hand to rabbit-proof native grasslands.

Environmentalists will pull on the gloves as they clean and remove weeds from the VicTrack Rail Reserve this week.

A fence will then be erected to keep the bunny population out.

Werribee has become a rabbit warren due to cooler temperatures, fewer control efforts and a steep landscape.

More than 50 rabbits per square kilometre have burrowed their way into the area.

Organiser Frances Overmars said the pests were eating endangered plant species.

“The grasslands are rare and threatened with extinction,” she said.

“There is also a lot of rubbish blowing in.

“It’s a gateway into Werribee, all the trains pass under the Forsyth Rd bridge and we can make it look more welcoming.”

Wyndham City Council had targeted the rabbits with bait and weed control to reduce the plant cover across the Werribee River, Cobbledicks Ford Reserve, Skeleton Creek and Little River.

The restoration will take place on 20 March from 9am until noon beside the Forsyth Rd overpass at the rear of the K-mart distribution site.

People are asked to bring gloves, secateurs and garbage bags.

Morning tea will also be provided.