Protecting Wildlife for the Future Return of the Natives Project James Parkin Conservation Officer Dorset Wildlife Trust Part of a nationwide network of Wildlife Trusts

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Project aim; reducing the spread of invasive plant species along river corridors of conservation importance. Return of the Natives

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Dorset Invasive Plants Strategic Review 1)Review bankside and freshwater invasive plant data available in Dorset Review of invasive plant data being submitted by Angling groups and river restoration contractors in Dorset. 40% of respondents do send data to the Environment Agency, a central or local data repository.

Protecting Wildlife for the Future 2) Which Invasive plants should we concentrate our efforts on? New Zealand Pigmyweed, Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam, Water primrose, Floating pennywort American Skunk Cabbage Dorset Invasive Plants Strategic Review

Protecting Wildlife for the Future 3) Where should our project be concentrating its efforts?  Conservation importance of the water body.....what level of designation if any is present?  Conservation importance of downstream water bodies what designations if any are present downstream?  Result of management Is this a recent outbreak on catchment? Is this a population at source that can be eradicated (but still remain elsewhere on catchment)?  Scale of invasion......What length of river bank is being covered with this species?  Resources......How many volunteer hours will be required to clear population? Dorset Invasive Plants Strategic Review

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Dorset Rivers – Bere stream Moors AllenTarrant N. Winterbourne Piddle S.Winterbourne Tadnoll Cerne Sydling Hooke Frome Wey Ber e Conservation Importance of Water body: SSSI at Bere Regis = medium (4) Conservation Importance of downstream water body: European Sites = High (9) What is achievable Eradication on this water body= medium (4) Scale of Invasion Approximately 1000 meters = medium (4) Resources required = low (9) Total Score: = 30 Scoring: High= 9 Medium= 4 Low= 1 No score = 0

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Dorset Rivers – River Char Scoring: High= 9 Medium= 4 Low= 1 No score = 0 Conservation Importance of Water body: County Wildlife Site = Low (1) Conservation Importance of downstream water body: no designations = no score What is achievable Slowing the spread only= no score Scale of Invasion over 1000 meters = High (1) Resources required = High (1) Total Score: = 3

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Our organisation pledges to encourage its representatives to follow these principles; 1) Abide by the “Check, Clean, Dry” protocol, before and after visiting a site to ensure footwear and other equipment is safe to take to the next site. 2) Supplement the checking, cleaning and drying of equipment with an approved disinfection product (such as Virkon Aquatic) before and after visiting a site when conducting multiple site visits to different freshwaters to reduce the possibility of transferring unwanted bacteria and viruses. 3) If an INNS is identified during a site visit, the record for that INNS will be submitted to Plant Tracker, Living record or another established recording scheme. 5) Where applicable pass on advice that will contribute to the control or eradication of INNS. 6) Avoid practices which will create situations that allow INNS to spread; for example when fencing riverbanks, ensure that access points are fitted that allow one or more of the following; temporary grazing, mechanical control or hand pulling so that invasive species present within the river corridor can be managed effectively in the future. Avoid the movement of plant or soil material that is at risk of containing invasive species to a site uncontaminated with that species. Code of Conduct for organisations working in freshwater habitats