A catchment approach to invasive plants – a strategy for the River Avon
The presence of non-native invasive plants is identified as a significant threat to the characteristic species and habitats of the River Avon. Their impact and management is a major concern due to their dominant behaviour and difficulty to control once established.
The Wessex Chalk Stream Project is leading on this key element of the biodiversity restoration objectives for the Living River Project. It includes the establishment of a non-native invasive plants control strategy, primarily focussing on three of the most serious invasive plants species in the River Avon catchment – Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica), Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) and Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) but with scope for targeting key aquatics such as Parrot’s eather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) and Floating Pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides).
Learning from the experiences of other projects in the UK, it will develop and demonstrate a strategic approach to dealing with invasive plants across the catchment that engages stakeholders in planning, action and monitoring and will be sustainable after the project has finished, The experiences gained will be transferable to watercourses throughout the UK and Europe.
The programme will produce:
- GIS database of invasive non-native plants, based at county biological records centres and kept up to date.
- Creation of a self-sustaining Stakeholder Forum, tackling issues independently and using demonstration projects for reference
- A 20-year catchment wide plan for the eradication of Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam
- At least one demonstration project (candidate sites are the Salisbury area (upper Avon) and Ringwood area (lower Avon)
The project will ensure that areas affected are managed for their heritage value both during and after the duration of the project.
