Remote-controlled mulchers are deployed in the Lossie and Spey River catchments to clear access tracks ahead of the control season
Invasive plant control can present many challenges to content with – toxic giant hogweed sap, impassable riverside terrain, and baking hot conditions while wearing heavy waders or toasty spray suits. One thing not often considered is the impenetrable jungles of native riparian habitat our team and volunteers sometimes need to battle through to reach the invasives.
A delightful mix of Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed in a forest of spiky native gorse!
We need to go everywhere – absolutely everywhere – that giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed can be found along our rivers. You see that wall of spiky gorse bushes with the lovely giant hogweed flowers popping out the top, definitely out of reach? Yep, even there.
Luckily, engine-uity knows no bounds when Karen and Elise are in charge!
Towards the end of March, the Spey and Lossie teams deployed a team of contractors with their trusty remote-controlled mulchers to clear paths through our most difficult-to-access sites.
The contracting team worked on three sites on the Spey and three sites on the Lossie to clear access paths through gorse, broom, and dense shrubs, as well as clearing fields of dead (definitely dead!) Japanese knotweed stems which were treated last year.
This work took place at the end of March, before plant control started for the season, and will make giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed control much easier on these sites. It’s a lot to ask our team and volunteers to battle though the invasive plants, let alone a forest of gorse bushes on the way!
The remote-controlled mulchers were about the size of a sit-on lawn mower, but on tracks rather than wheels so they are well suited to manoeuvre on difficult terrain. Our contractors operated the mowers from a short distance away, taking care as they mowed down dead knotweed stems and cleared the small access tracks for use later in the season.
Many thank you to our wonderful contracting team for all their hard work!
