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Winter 2013 - Newsletter
Well all I can say is that I thought the winter period of the FINNS programme was going to be a quiet time, where we could catch up with work and plan for the 2014 spraying season but how wrong was I. It has been very busy in the Trust office as we have been beavering away writing end of year reports, moving office (AGAIN FOR A THIRD TIME) and running workshops for groups around the Forth District. I am actually quite happy that I have been kept busy as I think if I was stuck in the office for the whole winter Alison would need to sedate me, all I know is that I am looking forward getting out and spraying Invasives, catching up with existing volunteers along with meeting new volunteers !!!
INVASIVE SPECIES MAP DATA 2013
Throughout 2013 volunteers, Trust staff and partner organisations surveyed a massive amount of river banks for invasives. We have also had a number of sightings submitted through our recording website www.inns.rafts.org.uk . All data that has been collected by staff, volunteers and partner organisations has been submitted onto this website to build a picture of what the INNS situation currently looks like in the Forth. Here at the Trust, we have broken this data down further into each invasive to show what areas are affected by each of the 6 INNS we are tackling. Some rivers are affected by all invasives and some just one or two species, this is shown in the maps which can be found at http://www.fishforth.co.uk/inns/invasive-species-survey-results-for-the-forth-district-in-2013/
The maps are by no way complete and there is still a large amount of river to be surveyed. If you are out and spot an invasive please report it to the Trust by either adding it on our reporting website www.inns.rafts.org.uk or email me (Jonathan) with a grid reference — j.louis@fishforth.co.uk .
MINK WORKSHOPS AND RAFT DEPLOYMENT
We have a new member in the office, his name is Ming the Merciless and he is a bit stuffed after Christmas!!! Ming the mink will be touring the District through the summer to show the public what a mink looks like. He has already had a few outings so far, he turned up at the Water of Leith Conservation Trust’s (WOLCT) visitor centre while I was giving a mink workshop. The Trust has been working with WOLCT to tackle INNS on the Water of Leith. We ran a Mink workshop and gave them a raft so they could carry out their own monitoring project to see if mink are present along with finding out what other mammals use the river. During the workshop, we set up the raft and placed it on the water of Leith, right before we placed the raft the group was treated to a spectacularly close sighting of an otter. We think the otter was a small female as at first we confused it with a mink!!! The Ecology Centre have also been using our equipment and managed to capture an otter on video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhpRBsPr9CI
The Trust has also been working with volunteers around the District to set up monitoring rafts, there has been some rafts set up over in Fife, multiple rafts on the Teith and some new sites proposed by volunteers for the Allan. The anglers over on the Avon have recently undergone training to run their own mink eradication project, the Trust has supported the anglers by lending them equipment to achieve their ultimate goal of a mink free Avon.
If you would like to help monitor a raft with the FINNS programme or need advice on setting up a Mink monitoring network please get in touch.For more information on Mink and the issues they cause check out our website, also keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter as we will be posting #minkfacts like the one below.
INVASIVE SPECIES WORKSHOPS
The Trust can run free workshops for communities, organisations, and education outlets. We run workshops on INNS identification & management, surveying INNS, Mink monitoring workshops and GPS training. If you would like us to run a workshop for your community members / staff / students then please get in touch.
MEET FIONA, TCV NATURAL TALENT APPRENTICE
Hi, my name is Fiona and I am on a TCV Natural Talent Apprenticeship with the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS). My apprenticeship is focused on Freshwater Invasive Non Native Species, and I am very excited about getting involved in the Forth’s FINNS programme this year. I have assisted Jonathan with mink workshops, utilising my previous volunteer experience with the Scottish Mink Initiative and INNS plant surveys over the winter. I am now looking forward to getting out and using my spraying qualifications to help eradicate Giant Hogweed on the Allan Water in the Spring.
Part of my placement involves attending workshops and giving presentations, I went down to Shrewsbury in January to the Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat Local Action Group (LAG) workshop. This was focused around collaborative work in tackling INNS; the GB NNSS website has a really great resource section for LAGS that may be of use to some of you: http://www.nonnativespecies.org/index.cfm?sectionid=71
If you want to find out more about what I am getting up to during my apprenticeship check out my blog :- http://www.rafts.org.uk/category/fionas-blog/
PLANNING INNS CONTROL FOR 2014
We are working away to get everything in place for the 2014 spraying season. We have set ourselves big targets but with the help and support from our dedicated volunteers we feel we can achieve these targets. We plan to start Giant Hogweed control in April when the plant is still small, we are aiming to spray source of outbreak to the confluence on the Allan, Carron and Almond with the help of our volunteers. I aim to go out, on site visits, throughout March to check the growth of the plant, once we see it is at a suitable height to spray I shall send out spraying dates.
We will be heading out Balsam bashing in the summer too, we currently have two dates planned 13th July 10am and the 17th august 10am. We will be supporting the Callander SWT group in their ongoing effort to eradicate balsam from the Geisha pools area. Please contact us for more information and if you would like to attend this event. More balsam bashing dates throughout the District will be added in due course.
DATES FOR THE DIARY 2014
3rd March 2014, 13:30—15:30—INNS Identification workshop, Fife
We will be running an ID workshop for Living Lomond's Landscape Partnership (LLLP) at Loch Ore Meadows. Bookings through LLLP caroline@centreforstewardship.org.uk or 01337 858 838 .
April—Mid June—Giant Hogweed Control
Giant Hogweed control will start up April onwards, dates will be confirmed once the plants start to grow. If you would like to help, please contact us.
4th May 12:00—16:00 Farm Open Day, Oatridge College, West Lothian
The Trust will be attending Rural Connects farm open day to raise awareness of INNS in West Lothian, come along for a fun filled day. http://www.ruralconnectwestlothian.co.uk/farm-open-day-2014.html
1st June 2014, 10:00—13:00—INNS Identification workshop, West Lothian Ranger Service
We will be running an INNS Identification workshop for West Lothian Ranger Service at Almondell & Calderwood country park visitors centre. Please book through Kirsty Morrison at almondell&calderwood@westlothian.gov.uk
More dates will be announced via Facebook, Twitter, Email and on our Website.
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#MinkFact Ming the Mink was introduced in the early 20th century for the fur trade. The first fur farm in Scotland was opened in 1938, first wild recorded sighting of mink the same year.
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