VIDEO: Japanese knotweed above Pitlochry

The thing about invasives is that the more you look, the more you find. This source is at Moulin, above Pitlochry. Fragments had been found further down in the town itself, possibly/ probably coming from this source. Japanese knotweed really is a problem in towns where it can affect buildings and is very expensive to put right any damage that it causes.

By the Tay

The photos below are from a survey for invasives along the Tay between Aberfeldy and Kenmore. The dominant invasive is himalayam balsam, which is extensive but still containable. Small areas of Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and white butterburr are also present, along with a small area of the garden escapee Lambium. There are several thousand square metres in total over a length of about 6 miles.

We are looking for a way of funding eradication of these species.

Intermingling with other riverside vegetation

VIDEO: Himalayam Balsam mapping

Giant hogweed leaves.

Butterburr

This plant is becoming establsihed in the area between Kenmore and Aberfeldy, in this case, constraining a footpath.

Japanese knotweed below Kenmore

Lower down....

VIDEO: An invasives source

Garden escapee

This pretty little planr is called Lambium, and is threatening to become invasive in many areas of the country.

Non Native Species Secretariat Newsletter

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/news/index.cfm?id=55

The new Non Native Species Secretariat newsletter provides a summary of some of the most significant developments over the past few months. It's aimed at a broad audience and designed to promote better sharing of information, greater awareness and encourage partnership working. We hope that it will also provide an opportunity for local groups to share experiences of tackling the INNS problems in their area.

Invasive Species Compendium

The Invasive Species Compendium is an online, open access reference work covering recognition, biology, distribution, impact and management of the world's invasive plants and animals.

To find out more:

http://www.cabi.org/Default.aspx?site=170&page=4127

CABI Invasive Species Compendium:

http://www.cabi.org/isc

If you can't kill 'em....

....build a great big wall to stop 'em!

Two dams have been constructed in an attempt to prevent the spread of American Signal Crayfish from the Clyde to the Annan catchment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-13964184

Ladybird spotting: British v foreign bugs

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14043356

A handy new article on how to tell our native ladybirds from the invasive Harlequin...coming to a garden near you soon?!?!

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Kill and learn lots

Last year we decided to take on the prevalent problem of skunk cabbage on the Duirinish Burn at Balmacara. We dug out and analysed the plants and then dug out the rest and learnt quite a lot in the process. I have walked the burn this season and have been impressed with the results. The method works! The problem hasn't gone away, some seedlings went undetected, some plants weren't completely removed and of course there is the five hundred metre stand and associated spread supplying seed down the burn that hasn't been tackled yet. We did remove one particular plant at the "sepation zone" and left it to see how it re-grew, and it is fine and healthy - minus and seed head now.

Whilst hunting for largely absent plants earlier in the season I did get proof of seed distribution and found that the seed is about 2-3mm brown and a bit leathery, see pic above. I think control was something of the order of 90% but I now have questions about if a small crow bar could be used to pulverise the base plate and if that cluster of seedlings are actually sprouts from remaining plant fragments........? Have to get out and find out.

Reaching for the sky

Giant hogweed. Everything about this plant is big, even its name ... Heracleum mantegazzianum.

It is a biennial, so individual plants die after flowering. However, its seeds can survive up to 5 years in the soil, so whatever treatment is used, control must be continued for at least 5 years on any given site.

Slashers at dawn

Balsam bashing near Smithton.

Water Users Beware!

Our waterways are under threat from invasive aquatic species.

As a water user, you may unknowingly be helping to spread invasive species from one waterbody to another in equipment, shoes and clothing.


Help stop this happening by following these three simple steps: Check, Clean, Dry.



Check your equipment and clothing for living organisms

Pay particular attention to areas that are damp or hard to inspect



Clean and wash all equipment, footwear and clothes thoroughly

If you do come across any organisms, leave them at the waterbody where you found them



Dry all equipment and clothing: some species can live for several days in damp conditions

Make sure you don't transfer water elsewhere



For further information visit: http://www.nonnativespecies.org

Anglers in Highland use this information pack which highlights INNS issues in your region: http://db.tt/VfAfGY9

Double whammy

Rhododendron ponticum and Japanese knotweed vie for space on a roadside at Ardgour.

More Skunk cabbage from Strathconon earlier this year

Found at a garden pond in Strathconon with a burn leading into the main River Meig. A potential problem but doesn't appear to be at the moment according to Meryl.

Also found in another garden pond leading into the main Conon river system. The Victorians have a lot to answer for.

Skunk on the run

American Skunk Cabbage has been steadily encroaching into an area of wet woodland by Loch Mhor. After failing to reduce the population with a spade, we resorted to glyphosate. All treated plants died. Those shown here were left as a control, and marked with a cane.

Inevitably, a few small plants were missed. Most were hiding under mum's skirts when the sprayer came round.

Are these clusters of small plants evidence that Skunk Cabbage sets viable seed?

Space invader

In the early stages of colonisation, Himalayan balsam can seem a fairly innocuous plant. But as it establishes, it can become heavily dominant, excluding native species.

Gardeners beware...Be Plant Wise

It's that time of the year again when the frost has halted and it's time to get those gardens and ponds sorted out....but are you Being Plant Wise???

Certain plants can take over our gardens and ponds. They can also become established in the wild, where they can smother our native plants, clog our waterways, worsen flooding and remove oxygen from the water, which can harm fish.

By doing something very simple, such as composting excess plants carefully, we can all help the environment and reduce costs.

To Be Plant Wise just follow these easy steps to ensure Invasive Non Native Plants don't spread into the surrounding countryside:

Be plant wise to the threat of invasive plants, which can take over your pond or garden and damage the environment.

Be careful if you move pond plants around – even tiny fragments can cause massive problems. Take care when maintaining your pond or disposing of waste water.

Don’t dump plants in the wild - you could be breaking the law. Always dispose of old plants and pond material responsibly, by composting or using a green waste bin.

For further information on INNS causing problems in Highland download the Cromarty Firth Fishery Trusts Invasive Species Information Pack for gardeners through the following link:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29384831/gardener%20awareness%20raising%20info%20pack.pdf

and visit the Be Plant Wise website:

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/beplantwise/

It's time to hang your...balsam out to dry!

What a wonderful growing season we have been having so far! Unfortunately the same applies to our non native plant invaders such as Himalayan balsam which is back with avengence!

Cue BTCV and their many merry volunteers!

Because when a plant can grow from this.....

.....to this in a few short weeks we need all the help we can get!

Lower Ness INNPS Project

Scottish Native Woods will resume its programme to control Invasive Non-Native Plants (INNPS) in Glenurquhart this year. The project is being extended to include other INNPS hotspots in the Lower Ness catchment. These include several populations of Himalayan balsam around Inverness.
Having tried a variety of control methods for balsam, we have found the most useful tool for the job is a Martindale 781 Slasher. It is a light hand-tool with a long reach ideal for difficult spots such as steep banks, and among woody vegetation. If it's kept sharp, it can be used to cut through scrub, nettles and brambles where balsam often hides.
More info at http://www.ralphmartindale.co.uk/

... the Slasher in action

Butterbur

In leaf, it looks like a giant coltsfoot.

Spot the ball (sam)

Click on the picture to get a larger image. Then count the wee Himalayan balsam plants and win a prize.

River Peffery Dingwall

As well as the invasive plant removal project on the River Peffery, there are a series of other restoration works ongoing under the River Peffery Restoration Project. Clean up days, tree planting and instream restoration activities will be taking place throughout the year. All activities are open to volunteers of any age, to find out more visit The Greenhouse shop on Dingwall High Street.

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2182042?UserKey=

MoD to spend £3m on decontaminating Derry's Fort George site

The Ministry of defence are spending £3m to decontaminate the site from heavy oils, diesels, heavy metals and Japanese knotweed.

"A plant that needs to be disposed of along with the hazardous waste is also present on the site."

"Japanese knotweed can be dealt with and will be dealt with," Mr McCullough said.

"It will be sifted and burnt. "It's a painstaking operation, but if it's left untreated it can return and undermine foundations of the buildings and cause considerable damage to buildings in the future."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12756767

Check, Clean, Dry

The GB Non-native Species Secretariat have launched their campaign to stop the spread of invasive plants and animals in British waters.

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/index.cfm?sectionid=98

Botanical gardens an age old culprit in the spread of invasive plants...

Evidence suggests that botanic gardens play a part in the spread of invasive alien species, which have escaped from collections, a study has concluded. The paper's author says garden managers need to focus on assessing the risk of potentially invasive plants escaping. The findings will appear in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution. Read the rest of the article on the BBC news website. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12849021

Japanese knotweed in your garden...

These storys are from early last year but still as relevant today I'm sure...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertynews/7436431/Mortgages-refused-over-invasive-weed.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/7768301/Homeowner-turned-down-for-mortgage-due-to-Japanese-Knotweed-in-garden.html

The burs and the bees

White butterbur flowering in Glenurquhart today, 1st March.

White butterbur Petasites albus is found locally in UK, and is most frequent in east Scotland.

When bees start to emerge from their hives on sunny days in late winter, they may find few flowers for feeding. These white butterbur flowers were popular with early bees and flies.

American Mink in Scotland

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12323300

A recent article from the BBC news website. Showcasing the worlds largest Mink eradication project from our very own doorstep. Already a successful project further plans are to double the area of mink removal to 20,000 sq km, working with the rivers and fishery trusts of Scotland (RAFTS), Scottish Wildlife Trust, Univeristy of Aberdeen and Scottish Natural Heritage with a further aim of eventually expanding the project to work UK wide.

If you wish to get involved and volunteer to look after a Mink Raft in the Highlands please contact me at m.norris@btcv.org.uk and I will be able to give you further information or provide you with the equipment myself.

Grey squirrel hitches a lift to Skye - Maybe?

Recently spotted in Skye but dealt with was a grey squirrel. Was reported on http://www.hbrg.org.uk/ in the news section on the 13th December . No other details.
Martin

Landward feature on INNS

Dougie Vipond presents a feature on Invasive Non-native Species on BBC Landward, Friday 3rd December, 7 pm.

Monsanto Technical advice

Monsanto - producers of the chemicals we probably use most in controlling invasives. As unlikely as it sounds their Technical advice line is very good, it seems to be manned by one person whose knowledge and helpfulness is very useful. If you have a question about a particular formulation and use near water or standard dilution rates or approvals for stump treatment etc this can be the easiest way to get information quickly - and they do call you back if you leave a message. In conversation earlier I hear there is a new Glyphosate formulation in testing that will be a gel and will not contain any surfactant - the toxic part of Roundup (Glyphosate itself is prectically non toxic) - sounds good for stump treatment, stem treatment and foliar treatment over water. Just a couple of years to wait probably.

I am not a fan of Monsanto particularly but this is a good service.

Bursting with 'promise'

Taken before the recent frosts, Himalayan balsam busy securing its foothold in the Milton - Culloden area. We'll hopefully start tackling this problem next year. Any volunteers?

Pampas grass

Has anyone noticed spread of pampas grass Cortaderia selloana We have a couple of places local to here where it has escaped but I wonder if it a widespread problem. I only ask because whilst invasive surfing on the DAISIE website (European invasive species project) it was listed as one of the top one hundred invasives in Europe. Is this another there but not noticed species?

.one afternoon driving along the estate roads and what did I find but a rare pampas flowering gorse..........an invasives joke by one of the estate residents here perhaps? Who knows

Two for £8...bargain?!

Look what I came across on sale in Lidl...Rhododenderon...there is no information on the label about what variety it is but from the picture it looks alot like ponticum don't you think???

Himalayan knotweed as bad as Japanese knotweed?

I have recently discovered quite substantial stands of Himalayan knotweed near to the river Blackwater, along the way I discovered a house which is obviously inhabited by a builder of some sort and had recently done some building work of their own...I wonder do they realise what this plant is poking up from their building soil?!?! I found out that the house a mere 200 m downstream was the son to this household and guess what was in his back yard too! Classic example of spreading through top soil. Can anyone tell me if Himalayan knotweed presents the same danger to building work as Japanese knotweed???