The Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust, working the Scottish Natural Heritage, are hoping to run a project to deal with infestations of invasive non-native plant species, namely Giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed and American skunk cabbage along the Endrick Water and many of its tributaries, including the Blane Water.
These plants are particularly damaging:
- They threaten the biodiversity of the local environment by out-competing and excluding native plants.
- Their presence can reduce access to areas of our catchment and restrict a number of leisure and sporting activities
- Giant hogweed goes through a winter die back which can leave our river banks open to erosion which can negatively impact on fish populations.
Unfortunately there is no easy fix and managing these species is a long term process that requires a great deal of staff and volunteer dedication. Over the next two years the Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust plan to use a number of different treatment methods to reduce the scale of the infestations across the catchment. For these treatment methods to be effective they require multiple applications throughout the growing season, relying on the goodwill and co-operation of the local land owners, and farmers for repeated access to the river banks.
The Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust will be informed of whether the project application has been successful or not by June 2019. In the meantime they need help to support their plans. If you have time, please give them a shout – volunteers are very welcome!
And most importantly, if you spot any of these invasive species along the Endrick or its tributaries, please contact the team at l.lomondfisheriestrust@gmail.com
