Management strategy for invasive plants on the Clyde

We are currently undertaking a survey of invasive non-native plant species across the River Clyde catchment upstream of Glasgow Tidal Weir. The work, which is funded by Scottish Natural Heritage​, will be used to inform a management strategy for invasive plant species including giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam. Before fieldwork commenced we collated existing records into a single database, combining our own data with records from a variety of other sources including councils and other environmental organisations.  We are now mid-way through a ‘bridge-hopping’ survey in which we are visiting every bridge that crosses a tributary of the Clyde (within the survey reaches) to assess for the presence and abundance of invasives. This alone is a pretty big task but should provide a good indication of the spread of these plants across the catchment, which is essential for an effective control programme.