Any help would be greatly appreciated by Catherine and her team.
Her details and further information are as follows:
Catherine Chatters
New Forest Non-Native Plants Officer
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Testwood Lakes Centre, PO Box 268, Bunel Road, Southampton, SO40 3XP
Telephone 023 8042 4205; Mobile ‘phone 07770 923315
View the Project web-page at:-
http://www.hiwwt.org.uk/new-From the HIWWT web pages:
The
New Forest is a crucial area for wildlife but it is threatened by
invasive non-native plants. These plants were introduced to UK gardens
as ornamentals or as oxygenators in garden ponds but they have 'jumped
the garden fence' and invaded the countryside. They grow vigorously,
spread rapidly and elbow-out our native wildflowers which provide
important food and nectar for invertebrates.
Our ongoing efforts, often supported by volunteers, are helping to control the spread of these vigorous invaders and protect habitats for native plants and wildlife.
Our ongoing efforts, often supported by volunteers, are helping to control the spread of these vigorous invaders and protect habitats for native plants and wildlife.
Wildlife
Because non-native plants are free from their native predators, they are often able to dominate a landscape with remarkable speed, pushing out the native plants and the invertebrates that depend on them.With a decline in invertebrates comes a drop in species further up the food chain. Birds, fish and mammals can all be affected by this loss in diversity. Our wildlife depends on a well-balanced ecosystem, free of invasive non-native species.
You can help...
- Help stop the spread of invasive non-native plants. Download the Plantlife booklet ‘Keeping ponds and aquaria without harmful invasive plants: A guide to plants you can use in place of non-natives’.
- Report your sightings to Catherine Chatters on 07770 923315 or Catherine.Chatters@hiwwt.org.uk.
- Volunteer with a work party to pull up Himalayan Balsam in summer – the plants have short roots and are easy to pull out, and your efforts can make a practical contribution to the conservation of wildlife.
- Landowners and managers may be able to get help with controlling
these plants on their land. Contact Catherine Chatters on 023 8042 4205
or email Catherine.Chatters@hiwwt.org.uk for information.
Work Parties ...
Please get in touch with Catherine Chatters on 07770 923315 or email Catherine.Chatters@hiwwt.org.uk if you are interested in volunteering. You can see a selection of upcoming work party dates here.For a full list of work parties to pull Himalayan balsam please contact Catherine Chatters.