Avon Valley by Mark Emery
The River Avon and its tributaries form the largest chalk river system in England. A haven for rare and threatened wildlife, the river is of international importance and has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
This partnership project is turning the tide against the spread of invasive non-native plants in the Avon Valley, particularly along watercourses and stunning wetland habitats.
Along the length of the River Avon we are working to remove non-native plants that disrupt the ecosystem and threaten native plants and wildlife. By controlling the spread of invasive plants such as Himalayan balsam and creeping water primrose we can ensure that vulnerable environments become bigger, better and more joined up with other habitats.
Non-native plants are species which have been imported from abroad and landowners incorporate them in their gardens or pond. The plants then sometimes manage to spread beyond the garden fence and into the wild. Because these non-native plants don’t suffer from the same competition and diseases in their native range, they can be free to grow rapidly, often crowding out our native species.
The Avon Valley is on the western boundary of the New Forest. View the map of the Source to Sea Project area.
- Source to Sea project leaflet
- Non-native plants factsheets
- View the list of invasive, non-native plants
Wildlife
Plants might seem harmless, but the effects of invasive plants can be dramatic and wide-ranging. Invading plants can dominate native species, which in turn can affect the insects which feed on them. An entire ecosystem can be disrupted by the influx of non-native plants – potentially causing a loss of diversity.
Invasive plants can therefore impact on wildlife in and around our rivers, such as trout, salmon and crayfish, while also reducing food stocks for otter, kingfisher, lamprey and water vole. Rare species such as Desmoulin’s whorl snail and water crowfoot are also threatened by these dangerous invaders.
You can help...
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Help stop the spread of non-native plants - read more about the simple steps you can take to control these invasive species and protect wildlife. - Download the Plantlife booklet ‘Keeping ponds and aquaria wihtout harmful invasive plants: A guide to plants you can use in place of non-natives’.
- Get more information from the Non-Native Species Secretariat
- Report your sightings electronically or by post: contact Jo Gore on 023 8042 4205 or joanne.gore@hiwwt.org.uk.
- Volunteer with a work party to pull up Himalayan Balsam in summer – the plants have short roots and are easy to pull out, and your efforts can make a practical contribution to the conservation of wildlife. Call Jo on 023 8042 4205 to find out more.
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Landowners and managers may be able to get help with controlling these plants on their land. Contact Jo Gore on 023 8042 4205 or email joanne.gore@hiwwt.org.uk for information. - Join Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and contribute to our ongoing work to create havens for people and creatures.
Project partners
Source to Sea is a partnership project between Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Dorset Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency.
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