Invasive Weeds on the River Dee

Volunteers from Bryn y Pys Angling Association have begun a programme to control and eventually eradicate Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam from a four mile stretch of the lower Dee between Bangor on Dee and Erbistock (Overton Bridge) – The club has received funding from Keep Wales Tidy to train a volunteer in the use of herbicide spraying and to purchase herbicide which will hopefully allow the club to reclaim areas of the Dee that have in recent years become off limits due to the presence of both species of invasive weed – If not tackled both  plants will decimate local bio diversity, curb access and contribute to river bank erosion. Both of these plants are non native and are fast becoming an issue for many in our countryside and towns – The photo show volunteers from Bryn y Pys about to begin strimming Himalayan Balsam near Overton Bridge 

The work will continue throughout the summer supplemented with a programme of herbicide spraying and Keep Wales Tidy will be working closely with the club throughout this year. A major “balsam pull” will take place on the 3^rd and 4^th of July (last year we had over 40 volunteers taking part!). If you would like to take part please phone Shane Hughes, Keep Wales Tidy on 07766 007635 or e-mail shane.hughes@keepwalestidy.org