On Air Carnaby Street Chris Williams | 8:30am - 10:30am

Group to tackle invasive plant species

Himalayan Balsam, taken by Roger Bankes-Jones

Campaign to rid area of Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam

Eradicating two invasive plant species is the focus of a new community group set up in the west of the Island.

Friends of the Neb has been established to try and rid the river's catchment area of Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam.

They dominate the native flora and can damage watercourse banks, leading to erosion and increased silt, which is bad for fish spawning and harbours like Peel’s.

Volunteers are being sought for various aspects of the group's campaign: to identify and map where the species are; to work at removing and disposing of them, and to liaise with landowners affected by the plants.

They'd also like people to share their experiences of how they have been conducting their own private campaigns against them.

Anyone interested in joining the group should like its page on Facebook initially.

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