Welcome to Invasive Species Week 2026!

Activities and events to raise awareness of invasive non-native species will be held all week across England, Guernsey, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

This year Invasive Species Week is also being held in Belgium! Visit IUS-Week – ExotenNet and biodiversite.wallonie.be for more information. 

Our daily theme

Our theme today is ‘Learn about invasive non-native species’. There are lots of awareness raising materials and resources available on our Invasive Species Week webpages to help spread the word, including:

• a mini guide to invasive non-native species 
• an infographic and other social media resources
• information on invasive non-native species

Follow and share information from the NNSS and Animal & Plant Health Agency to help raise awareness: 

• X (Twitter): @InvasiveSp and @aphagovuk
• Facebook: Animal and Plant Health Agency | Facebook
• Linkedin: Animal and Plant Health Agency | LinkedIn
• YouTube: GB NNSS - YouTube
• Remember to use #INNSweek in any social media posts!

Events today

• The first of our daily webinars is taking place at 12:00 on the results of a recent research project looking at the impacts of invasive non-native species. Find out more and register to attend.
• All week the National Trust for Scotland is running an exhibit on the production of biochar from invasive rhododendron, “Turning a problem into a solution”, at Inverew, Poolewe, Wester Ross.
• The Angling Trust and Dorking & District Angling Society are holding a volunteering day to control Himalayan balsam at Castlefield Lake & River Mole.
• The Bees, Pollinators and Invertebrates All Party Parliamentary Group recently launched a call for evidence for their inquiry into “Securing the future for UK pollinators and key beneficial insects: Preparing against the threat of invasive species”. Visit the website to learn more and take part.

Later this week

Our webinar series continues throughout the week:

• Tues 23 June: Yellow-legged hornet contingency response - with the National Bee Unit. 
• Weds 24 June: Marine Invasive Non-Native Species – what can we do about them? - with Natural England
• Thurs 25 June: Using citizen science to prevent future spread of invasive non-native plants - with Coventry University
• Friday 26 June:
  • Bermuda's Biosecurity - with speakers from the Government of Bermuda and Bermuda National Trust. 
  • Coordinating biosecurity across the Caribbean UKOTs - with speakers from the Government of Montserrat, Government of the Virgin Islands, and RSPB.

View details of all events taking place this week.

Good luck to everyone running activities today! Stay tuned for lots more later this week, and please get in touch to let us know how you are taking part this week.