Can You Help Thwart Isle Of Wight Alien Invasion?

Newport based charity Natural Enterprise is asking keen gardeners and potential volunteers to visit them in the Garden and Outdoor Living Area at this weekend’s Royal Isle of Wight County Show to help combat 'alien' plants.

Invasive plants can cause serious problems to the environment and economy.

They can spread disease and pests, out-compete native plants for space, light, nutrients and water and some can damage buildings and cause flooding.

A few are even harmful to our own health.

Despite these threats, most gardens will contain plants that are not native to the UK.

Staff on the Natural Enterprise stand will be explaining how to stop the spread of invasive plant species by containing them within gardens, careful composting and better still, considerate planting.

The Plant Alert team at Coventry University have developed a list of over 160 plant species that do the same, or similar, jobs; as invasive plants and can be used in their place.

This has been published in a handy booklet that Natural Enterprise will be handing out free at the County Show.

In addition, they are renewing their call for new people to help their summer Himalayan balsam removal campaign both on the East Yar and in West Wight where it has appeared in the headwaters of the Caul Bourne and Brighstone Stream.

Seb Taylor, Invasive Species Officer at Natural Enterprise, said:

"This is a chance to see parts of the Island not normally visited and experience its wonderful wildlife”.

For more information email [email protected] or phone 296244.