Abseiling clear-up efforts to help rip out invasive species from Corrieshalloch Gorge as part of wider National Trust for Scotland efforts to tackle non-native plants at Balmacara, Kintail and Torridon in Ross-shire and dozens of other sites across Scotland
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ABSEILERS will be helping conservationists rip out invasive plants from a Ross-shire beauty spot as part of wider efforts to tackle non-native species across the county.
The National Trust for Scotland is getting back to its vital conservation work this month, beginning an effort to eradicate invasive plants.
Although the push is taking place across the country, key early sites targeted as part of Project Wipeout include Kintail, Balmacara and Torridon in Ross-shire.
It is working to remove the likes of Japanese Knotweed, American Skunk Cabbage and Rhododendron ponticum from its various conservation sites.
Contractors are already onsite at Kintail removing Rhododendron ponticum and at Balmacara and Torridon, while at Corrieshalloch Gorge, intrepid experts will swing on ropes to remove species from inaccessible ledges in the 60 metre gorge.
The Trust’s senior nature conservation advisor Jeff Waddell said: “This is the Trust’s biggest ever effort to tackle these non-native plants which are spreading across Scotland’s precious natural habitats, including temperate rainforests, crowding out the native flora.
“This is bad for our biodiversity – we need a range of native plants, so that we can have a rich, healthy environment.
“Using expert contractors and the latest removal methods, we’ll be working from Wester Ross to Ayrshire to get rid of these plants and provide space for Scotland’s native flora to flourish once again.”
Project Wipeout is being funded through support from the People’s Postcode Lottery, the Nature Scot Biodiversity Challenge Fund and Baillie Gifford.
Will Humpington from People’s Postcode Lottery said: “It’s great to hear that this important project to protect Scotland’s natural heritage is getting underway, and we are pleased that the players of People’s Postcode Lottery are playing their part in making it happen.”
Work will take place at sites across Scotland into 2021.
Related news: Forty-six jobs to go at National Trust for Scotland sites in the Highlands
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