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Rivers group handed £3m for invasive plant project

Tom BurgessNorth East and Cumbria
News imageTees Rivers Trust Several giant hogweed plants are silhouetted against a bright blue sky. The plants have multiple large seedheads coming off the top of the tall stem. There are three close up and many more further into the background.Tees Rivers Trust
The Tees Rivers Trust plans to use some of the funding to map invasive species with drones

An environmental group has secured £3m to fund a programme tackling invasive plant species.

The Tees Rivers Trust will use the money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to hire three members of staff and begin trialling biological control of Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed and floating pennywort.

The team will use drone mapping and surveying to monitor the plants before potentially using drones to spray the plants.

Project manager Chloe Lawrence said securing the funding was "genuinely incredible" and would give the group an opportunity to better "protect our river".

She said: "This project is built on the incredible support of our landowners, farmers, volunteers, partners and communities who are our eyes and ears across the catchment.

"Their knowledge, dedication and involvement will be what makes this project successful."

News imageTees Rivers Trust A pond has been completely covered in small green plants called floating pennywort. The water isn't visible at all. Some pond reeds are growing up through the plants on the right side and a wood is covering the far bank of the water,Tees Rivers Trust
Floating pennywort can cover water surfaces if left

The Tees Rivers Trust plans to reintroduce native flora once invasive species have been removed.

Lawrence hopes the funding will help them "restore habitats, improve biodiversity and build a healthier, more resilient river for future generations".

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