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Invasive Species

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Invasive species are generally considered to be those plants or animals that are not native (or naturalised) to the area in which they are currently found, and that pose a threat or nuisance to local biodiversity. In extreme cases an invasive species can cause the loss of one or more native species, in some cases permanently.

The Tyne Catchment is under threat from a number of invasive species, both plants and animals.  You can find out more about the problems we have in the Tyne catchment below.

Invasive Plants

The Trust is leading on the identification and mapping of Invasive plants in the Tyne Catchment. We are asking volunteers to walk river banks and record location, species and density of Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed as part of our River Watch programme.

If you would like to help please contact us.

The responsibility for invasive weed control rests with the individual landowners.  The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 increased the penalties available to the courts for wildlife offences.  A Magistrates court can impose a maximum fine of £5000 and a maximum of 6 months in prison.  A Crown court can impose stricter inforcement.  Tyne Rivers Trust wishes to work with landowners, land managers and volunteers to eradicate these troublesome species.  Ideally a strategic and joined up approach involving land manages, councils and river users is needed.  In the meantime, TRT works where it can.

Invasive plants present in the Tyne Catchment include: Japanese knotweed breaks through concrete

  • Japanese Knotweed
  • Himalayan Balsam
  • Giant Hogweed
  • Rhododendron
  • Snowberry

How to identify - click here to visit the NNSS website for ID sheets for all of the above species and more.  Click here for more general information.

Tyne Rivers Trust is working with volunteers and land manages to tackle Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam.

The removal of Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) when using herbicides besides river courses requires a licence from the Environment Agency and careful attention so as not to contaminate the river bank or water.  Tyne Rivers Trust has chosen the stem injection method after careful consideration of all available methods for several reasons.  The plant is not cut so no viable material is available to spread anywhere else.  The herbicide is contained within the rhizome removing the risk of contamination posed by both spraying and painting methods.  This is therefore a reasonably labour intensive method but very specific and ideal for treating small areas which directly threaten river structures such as the work done by our volunteers at Corbridge.

The best and least intrusive way of dealing with Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), TRT think, is to pull the stems and stack them away from the river bank.  Many River Watch Groups have had good success with this.

Invasive plants you may find in your pond.

  • New Zealand pigmyweed
  • Water fern
  • Floating Pennywort
  • Water-primrose
  • Parrot's feather

If you do discover an invasive species, don't panic! - just Be Plant Wise and remember to dispose of the plant by composting.  For more advice click here to visit the Be Plant Wise pages of the Non-native Species Secretariat website.

Invasive animals

Chinese Mitten CrabInvasive animals present in the Tyne Catchment include:

  

New Concerns

killer_shrimp_scaleA relatively new 'villain' is the 'Killer Shrimp', Dikerogammarus villosus.  So far only reported as being present at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire and 2 sites in Wales.

This shrimp is much larger than native species and is a very aggressive species which predates on our native fish and insect larvae with the ability to significantly alter ecosystems.

Vigilance is crucial as is taking care that you are not transporting shrimps from one area to another.

Download these ID sheets to help identify Dikerogammarus villosus

ID sheet fba (600Kb)

ID sheet NNSS (700Kb)

You can also find out more information from the Environment Agency website and the River Fly Partnership website.

The Salmon & Sea Trout Association and the Angling Trust have issued guidelines to help contain the spread of invasion.

Guidelines