HAMPSHIRE and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have been awarded a grant of £4,950 from conservation charity The New Forest Trust, to help continue the battle against giant hogweed along the Avon Water.

Growing to a height of five metres, this highly invasive plant out-competes our native wildlife.

It contains a toxic sap which reacts with skin, particularly in bright sunlight, causing ‘burning’ blisters and purple blotches so is a serious risk to human health.

The grant aid will help with herbicide treatment in 2015.

This work will help restore the native wildlife along the banks of the Avon Water, enable landowners to manage their land effectively and make the Avon Water a safer place for people.

The trust is also appealing for volunteers to pull up Himalayan balsam along the Avon Water and other rivers in the New Forest area next summer.

Catherine Chatters, the Wildlife Trust’s New Forest Non-Native Plants Officer says “Himalayan balsam has short roots and is easy to pull up so balsam-pulling is great fun and is very satisfying”.

  • To find out more about volunteering with The New Forest Non-Native Plants Project please contact Catherine at Catherine.Chatters@hiwwt.org.uk or telephone 023 8042 4205 / 07770 923315.