The Wear Rivers Trust is currently looking for volunteers to help tackle the issue of invasive non-native species in the River Wear.
The Wear Rivers Trust is working to tackle three of the worst invasive non-native species (INNS) in the Wear catchment: Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed. These have been increasing in the area for many years following their introduction to the UK in the 19th Century. All three species grow in large clusters which smother native vegetation and leave riverbanks vulnerable to erosion during winter dieback.
The Trust is currently looking for volunteers in Durham to help remove these non-native species. Some volunteer work includes:
• Performing walkover surveys to monitor the spread of INNS
• Assisting on task days focused on treating patches of INNS
• Becoming trained pesticide operators
• Providing expert knowledge
If you would like to find out more about the WINNS project or how you can get involved, you can visit the website or contact the Trust via the following details:
Website: www.wear-rivers-trust.org.uk
Email: admin@wear-rivers-trust.org.uk
Alternatively, the leaflet below is an excellent resource of information about the project and these non-native species: WINNS leaflet