New Forest invasive non-native plants project
Total project costs £216,023
Fund grant £20,000 (9% of total)
The New Forest National Park is one of the most important areas for wildlife in western Europe and as such, has many designations recognising its local, national and international importance for biodiversity.
A large proportion of the National Park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and includes a mix of heathland and mire, ponds, grassland and woodland habitats not found anywhere else in lowland Britain. It is estimated that over 2,700 non native plant species have established themselves in Britain and the vast majority of them pose little or no threat to our native wildlife.
However, there are a number of species that are having a very serious negative effect on our native wildlife and present particular challenges in the New Forest National Park, for example, Crassula helmsii, parrots feather, Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed.
This project aims to address the problem across the entire National Park area including the Open Forest, enclosed landscape and river valleys. It will deliver large scale practical management work, improved data recording and collection and extensive volunteer and community involvement. The project is being led by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and is partnership between the Trust and the Environment Agency, New Forest National Park Authority, Forestry Commission, Defra and Natural England.
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