New Forest Non-Native Plants Project

The New Forest Non-Native Plants Project was established in May 2009 to stop the spread of invasive non-native plants in the New Forest area, particularly in wetland habitats and along rivers and streams. The Project is hosted by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and funding has been provided by a partnership of organisations involving the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Defra, Natural England, The New Forest Trust and the New Forest National Park Authority. Species being tackled by the Project include Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed, Parrot’s Feather, Creeping Water-primrose, Australian swamp stonecrop, American Skunk Cabbage, Himalayan Knotweed, Pitcher Plant, Montbretia, Bog Arum and Iris laevigata.

The Project aims to:

identify where these plants are a problem;
arrange for control work to be carried out by volunteers and contractors;
commission research into control methods;
raise awareness of the need to control these plants and to prevent them spreading into our countryside.

The Project Officers help to implement, at the local level, the Invasive Non-Native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain and the government’s Be Plant Wise campaign. The Project’s success is dependent on a strong partnership approach with landowners, volunteers, contractors, universities, the media and the general public.

Our use of Cookies

Non-native Species Secretariat

Non-native species information portal

New Forest Non-Native Plants Project

Newsletters

Steering Group Reports