Below are events and activities that took place during Invasive Species Week 2024. Jump to:
Images from Invasive Species Week 2023: New Forest Non-native Plants Project, Bristol Zoological Society, Angling Trust, Scottish Invasive Species Initiative
Events
Monday 20th May
Talks and webinars:
- "Introduction to Invasive Species Week". NNSS and Professor Helen Roy (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology). Watch a recording.
- "Understanding alien species through citizen science". Bracknell Forest Natural History Society, UK CEH.
Awareness raising events:
- Asian hornet: Stay Alert, Take Action, Protect our Pollinators. Chelsea Flower Show. APHA. All week.
- Pop-up stand, Langsett Reservoir. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
- Pop-up stand, Roadford Lake. South West Lakes Trust.
- Seqour Detection Dogs at Wimbleball reservoir, Exmoor. South West Water.
- Be Plant Wise awareness raising at local garden centres. New Forest Non-native Plants Project.
- Awareness raising stand. Museum of Wales.
Volunteering:
- Floating pennywort removal at Stonebridge lock. Paddle UK, Angling Trust and Canal & River Trust.
Tuesday 21st May
Talks and webinars:
- "Using eDNA to detect invasive non-native species". NNSS and University of Hull. Watch a recording.
- "INNS surveillance and rapid eradication in Scotland". NNSS and NatureScot. Watch a recording.
- "Invasive species in the community". National Biodiversity Data Centre.
- "Invasive species and the local authority". National Biodiversity Data Centre.
- "Progress towards eradication in Aberdeen; successes to date and challenges ahead". Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels.
- "A series of talks on conservation detection dogs". Ecology & Detection Dog Britain and Ireland Working Group.
- Invasive species talk. Lough Erne Landscape Partnership.
- Conservation seminars, Cambridge Conservation Initiative.
Awareness raising events:
- Pop-up stand, Roadford Lake. South West Lakes Trust.
- Pop-up stand. Museum of Wales.
- Boardwalk opening at Countess Wear, Exeter. South West Lakes Trust.
Training:
- INNS and biosecurity day for volunteers. Yorkshire Invasive Species Forum.
Volunteering:
- Balsam bash on Cadnam River. New Forest Non-native Plants Project.
Wednesday 22nd May
Talks and webinars:
- "Non-native Species Inspectorate update". NNSS and Non-native Species Inspectorate, APHA. Watch a recording.
- "What biosecurity is, why it is important, and how people can get involved to help safeguard our seabirds". Islesburgh Centre, Shetland. Biosecurity for Life.
- "Invasive non-native species and Be Plant Wise" talk to staff at The Pig hotel. New Forest Non-native Plants Project.
- Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Lough Erne Landscape Partnership and Fermenagh and Omagh District Council.
- Invasive non-native mink. Environment Agency
Awareness raising events:
- Rockpool event. St Cuthbert's Island, Lindisfarne. Natural England.
- Pop-up stand. Museum of Wales.
- Pop-up stand. Adel Dam Nature Reserve and Golden Acre Park, Leeds. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
- Pop-up stand. Lerwick Museum, Shetland. Biosecurity for Life.
- Pop-up stand. Roadford Lake. South West Lakes Trust.
- Site visit by Chelmer and Blackwater LAG to launch a joint floating pennywort project between Essex Waterways Ltd and Chelmer Canal Trust.Survey
- Invasive species survey. Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust.
Volunteering:
- Removing Sour Fig (Hottentot Fig) at Rocquaine, Guernsey. The Guernsey Conservation Volunteers.
- Balsam bash at Millerground. South Cumbria Rivers Trust.
Thursday 23rd May
Talks and webinars:
- "Invasive non-native species impacts and response on the island of Anguilla". NNSS, Anguilla Government and Anguilla National Trust. Watch a recording.
Awareness raising events:
- Pop-up stand. Roadford Lake. South West Lakes Trust.
- Pop-up stand. Museum of Wales.
- Pop-up stand and free guided walk at Prior Park Landscape Garden. National Trust.
- South West Invasive Species Forum. Canalside Conference Centre, Somerset. South West Water.
- Local Groups Forum (Invasive Species theme). Mammal Society.
Training:
- Invasive species surveying. Colne Valley Visitor Centre.
- Volunteer training day. Tophill Low Nature Reserve.
Volunteering:
- Floating pennywort removal on the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Angling Trust, Paddle UK, United Utilities and Canal & River Trust.
- Himalayan balsam removal on River Teifi. 4 Rivers for LIFE project.
- Balsam bash in community woodland. Medway Valley Countryside Partnership.
- Balsam bash on Cadnam River. New Forest Non-native Plants Project.
Friday 24th May
Talks and webinars:
- "Supporting local action on invasive non-native species: INNS Mapper and the Floating Pennywort Strategy". NNSS, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency. Watch a recording.
Awareness raising events:
- Pop-up stand, Roadford Lake. South West Lakes Trust.
- Pop-up stand and free guided walk at Prior Park Landscape Garden. National Trust.
- Pop-up stand stand. Museum of Wales.
Volunteering:
- Floating pennywort removal on the Fossdyke Navigation & Catchwater Drain, Lincoln. Paddle UK, Angling Trust, East Mercia Rivers Trust and Rivercare.
- Balsam bash. Canal & River Trust West Midlands.
- Balsam bash. Oxford Island National Nature Reserve.
- Balsam bash. Aplley Bridge.
Saturday 25th May
Awareness raising events:
- Pop-up stand at York Museum Gardens. NNSS.
- Pop-up stand at Leybourne Lakes. Turtle Talley.
- Invasive species trail and awareness raising pop up stand. Roadford Lake. South West Lakes Trust.
- Invasive species trail, Upper Tamar Lake. South West Lakes Trust.
- Invasive species in Merlin Woods. Galway City Council.
- Pop-up stand, Mountpanther Farm Park, Downpatrick.
- Pop-up stand and free guided walk at Prior Park Landscape Garden. National Trust.
- Engagement event during world fish migratory day, Kelham Island Museum. The Angling Trust.
Volunteering:
- Sour Fig (Hottentot Fig) removal at Burton Battery. The Guernsey Conservation Volunteers.
Sunday 26th May
Awareness raising events:
- Pop-up stand at Tilgate Park. Turtle Talley.
- Invasive non-native species event incuding invasive species on display, children's activities and demonstrations. Carsington Water. Severn Trent.
- Invasive species trail and awareness raising pop up stand, Roadford Lake. South West Lakes Trust.
- Invasive species trail, Upper Tamar Lake. South West Lakes Trust.
- Pop-up stand, Mountpanther Farm Park.
Training:
- Invasive non-native species tour - learn to identify common terrestrial species. Outwood Nature Trail. Angling Trust.
Volunteering:
- Floating pennywort removal at Leaside Trust. Paddle UK, Angling Trust and Canal & River Trust.
- Balsam bash at Aplley Bridge, Wigan.
- Himalayan balsam removal. South Devon Nature Trust.
Follow up volunteering events
- 30th May: Invasive plant removal. Fairford Leys Centre, Aylesbury. River Thame Conservation Trust.
- 1st June: Berkhamsted pennywort paddle and pull.
- 6th June: 10:00-15:00. Invasive plant removal. Fairford Leys Centre, Aylesbury. River Thame Conservation Trust. Find out more and register.
- 13th June: 10:00-15:00. Invasive plant removal. Fairford Leys Centre, Aylesbury. River Thame Conservation Trust. Find out more and register.
- 23rd June: 10:00-15:00. Invasive plant removal. Fairford Leys Centre, Aylesbury. River Thame Conservation Trust. Find out more and register.
- 27th June: 10:00-15:00. Invasive plant removal. Fairford Leys Centre, Aylesbury. River Thame Conservation Trust. Find out more and register.
Other activities
Blogs
- Invasive Species Week: threats to our native wildlife. NNSS, Defra Environment Blog.
- APHA protecting our borders from non-native species. APHA.
- A day in the life of a Japanese knotweed expert. Expert Witness Institute.
- Alien Invaders. Museum of Wales.
- Approaches for assessing invasive non-native species impacts in UK Overseas Territories amid climate change. UK CEH
- Asian hornet contingency plan. Scottish Pollinators.
- Be vigilant for Asian hornets. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.
- CABI's expertise in weed management in the UK. CABI.
- Canal and river invasive species. Canal & River Trust.
- Citizen Scientists play vital role in ongoing investigation to map the spread of non-native shrew. Mammal Society.
- Claws for thought: saving North Yorkshire's native crayfish. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
- Controlling grey squirrels. BASC
- CRISEP: Tackling invasive plants on waterways. Countryside Jobs.
- Discover how the Trust is managing invasive species across the region to protect habitats and wildlife. Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust.
- Do you have giant rhubarb in your garden? NatureScot.
- Extreme weather is opening the floodgates to nature invaders in the UK. Wildlife Link.
- Help tackle the invasive Asian hornet. BASC
- How are invasive plants controlled in the UK? Environmental Controls.
- How invasive non-native species threaten our woods. Woodland Trust.
- How to make landscape scale invasive species control a reality? Collaboration is key! Scottish Invasive Species Initiative.
- Invasive non-native deer species in the UK. BASC.
- Invasive non-native species. The Angling Trust.
- Invasive non-native species. BASC.
- Invasive non-native species: what you can do. BASC.
- Invasive Species Prevention. RYA.
- Invasive Species Week 2024. South West Lakes Trust.
- Invasive Species Week Bollin Valley Partnership
- Invasive Species Week. Bristol Water.
- Invasive Species Week. The Green Blue.
- Is eradication of invasive mink now possible? Mammal Society.
- Isle of Wight calls for heroes to protect biodiversity from invasive plants. Natural Enterprise.
- Keeping the invaders at bay: how Scotland's foresters are battling invasive non-native species. Forestry and Land Scotland.
- Loughs Agency urges invasive species action in Foyle and Carlingford catchments. Loughs Agency.
- New technology to help identify invasive species. Environment Agency.
- Non-native and cryptogenic species in the Orwell and Stour. APEM Ltd.
- Non-native species can travel the oceans, with a little help from plastic waste. Cefas.
- Quick guide on invasive non-native species. BASC.
- Rethinking legislation, beyond the lists. Property Care Association.
- Securing our natural heritage: investment and innovation. National Trust for Scotland.
- See it, Snap it, Report it! Suspected Japanese oyster drill. Cefas
- Stop the spread! Leicestershire County Council
- Tackling Himalayan balsam - our river's beautiful enemy. Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust.
- Tackling invasives: unpicking the definitions. BTO.
- The West Highland Way - a natural tour. West Highland Way.
Videos
- What are invasive non-native species and how do they affect us? NNSS
- Impacts on woodlands and the countryside - NNSS
- Impacts on the freshwater environment - NNSS
- Impacts on the marine environment - NNSS
- Impacts on our homes and the places we live - NNSS
- What can I do? NNSS
- Aquatic plant guidance - OATA Ltd
- Asian hornet - Environment Agency
- Asian hornet information - BBKA
- Beware of Aliens - UK CEH
- Call for Evidence - Environmental Standards Scotland
- Check Clean Dry - Loughs Agency
- Check Clean Dry - Paddle UK
- Check Clean Dry - South Staffs Water
- Check Clean Dry with Alan Blair - The Angling Trust
- Giant hogweed - The Angling Trust
- Himalayan Balsam - Brecon Beacons National Park
- Himalayan balsam - Ribble Rivers Trust
- Invasive non-native species - Environment Agency
- Invasive non-native species - Riverfly Partnership
- Invasive Species on Fieldsports TV - BASC
- Invasive Species Week - National Trust Northern Ireland
- Invasive Species Week - South Staffs Water
- Invasive Species Week - Squirrel Accord
- Invasive Species Week - Wild Seas Wales
- Invasive Species Week - Woodland Trust
- Invasive Species Week - Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
- IPBES report - UK CEH
- Rhododendron - Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
- Stop the spread of garden invaders - North Wales Wildlife Trust
- Tips for aquatic plant and fish owners - OATA Ltd
- What are invasive species? Yorkshire Water.
- What are we doing to tackle INNS? Yorkshire Water
Radio interviews