Tyne Hogweed Clear Again!

Year three of our Giant Hogweed Eradication programme on the River Tyne comes to a close, and again we have treated every plant that had any chance of flowering this year, and hundreds more as well that would have flowered next year. So the seed bank which is dormant in the soil, laid down years ago, is being steadily eroded.

This is thanks to the hard work of all the landowners - mostly farmers - voluntarily taking time out from their business to treat the plants on their land, organised by James Wyllie, an ex-farmer. And it's also thanks to the group of ELC volunteer spotters surveying & GPS-ing plants, which get added to our map, which ensures everyone knows where all the plants are - or better still, are not!

The number of flowering plants has reduced dramatically - from over 100 in 2019 to only 10 this year (excluding Tyninghame and Bellyford). And there is now a Hogweed-free gap stretching from Pencaitland to Hailes Castle - 8 miles.

Want more details? - see the full report at //www.elcv.org.uk/tasks/invasives/the-program/the-2021/

Why not join us next year to help with spotting? Contact us at hogweed@elcv.org.uk