Invasive Plants

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 Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's 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 Feather (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.

Your records are of importance to find the distribution of these species so if you spot the presence of a non-native plant, please submit your sighting.You can submit your sightings in a few ways, firstly by using our invasive species on-line recording form. You can also download the invasive plants recording form that can be sent back into us once completed.