The Deveron Rivers Trust is excited to have become a member of Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action! We have just embarked upon a four-year project called the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (SISI) to combat the effects of invasive non-native species (INNS) along Aberdeenshire’s rivers and tributaries and would love to hear from people willing to help out!

Invasive species such as Giant Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed and American Mink out-compete native wildlife and lead to poorer quality and less variety of wildlife on the river banks. The SISI project has funding and resources to support and help individuals and communities to tackle the problems that invasive species cause on our waterways.

There are many ways you can get involved in the SISI project including:

Support our Mink control project:

• Adopt a mink raft and find out which mammals are present in the river. Our project officer will supply and help you install your mink raft, you will then need to commit to visiting the raft every 2 weeks, checking for footprints on the clay pad. No experience necessary.

• Monitor a mink trap. If mink are present in your area our project officers will provide a live capture trap on your mink raft. Traps must be checked every 24hrs without fail.  N.B. humane dispatching of mink is provided by SISI staff/local dispatcher.

Get hands on with plant removal:

• Giant Hogweed spraying. Working alongside qualified staff you can help with pesticide application to control Giant Hogweed using knapsack sprayers. No experience necessary, full instruction and equipment provided, but does require basic fitness to walk to site and work outdoors. Regular volunteers may have the opportunity to gain pesticide application qualifications.

• Group invasive plant removal – Himalayan Balsam. Join in with one of our conservation volunteer work parties to remove Himalayan balsam using hand tools. No experience necessary, all instruction and equipment provided, but does require basic fitness to walk to site and work outdoors.

• Japanese Knotweed injecting/spraying. Working alongside qualified staff you can help with pesticide application to control Japanese Knotweed using stem injectors or knapsack sprayers. No experience necessary, full instruction and equipment provided, but does require basic fitness to walk to site and work outdoors. Opportunity to gain your pesticide application qualification.

• Develop a community invasive plant removal group. We can support existing local groups or help you start a new group to bring local people together to adopt your local river and remove invasive plants, helping you with training and equipment.

Other opportunities:

• We offer opportunities to carry out invasive species surveys, provide education and outreach activities or help with the coordination of volunteers.
• Get your school/community/business/guide/scout group involved – we can deliver fun educational and hands-on practical wildlife management by the riverside. Get in touch and we can tailor a programme to suit you.
• You might be able to offer skills to augment the project! Interested in videography, blogging, creative activities, drone flying… Get in touch and let’s discuss!

The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (SISI) is a four-year partnership project in northern Scotland led by Scottish Natural Heritage and involving many fishery boards and trusts and the University of Aberdeen. SISI is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Scottish Natural Heritage

To get involved or find out more email: SISI@snh.gov.uk or find the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Our website www.invasivespecies.scot