Conservationists abseil into 60-metre gorge to tackle invasive plant species
The gravity-defying feat is part of efforts to tackle invasive non-native species (INNS), including Japanese knotweed and rhododendron ponticum, under NTS's new Plan for Nature, which identified it as the main driver of nature loss in Scotland.
Property and conservation staff surveyed the gorge, identifying sites where invasive plants had established themselves on the cliff sides before applying a targeted dose of herbicide.
The project aims to protect native flora from being crowded out of their natural habitats.
NTS plans to remove the six most troublesome non-native invasive plants from its estate: rhododendron ponticum, Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed, salmonberry, skunk cabbages and New Zealand broadleaf, and to gradually remove non-native invasive shrubs where they are protecting gardens from coastal spray.
It will also review emerging invasive species, targeting those which are most invasive and have the highest ecological impact.
Rob Dewar, the trust's INNS project officer, said: 'Our work at Corrieshalloch is part of our ongoing nature conservation to remove invasive non-native species and demonstrates the extreme lengths we go to, to protect the places in our care.
'These gravity-defying feats are undertaken by our rope access specialists who support our conservation efforts in these hard-to-reach places where these species can quickly establish themselves, like on the vertiginous sides of the gorge.
'The INNS work is focused on eradicating invasive non-native plants, including Japanese knotweed, American skunk cabbage and rhododendron ponticum.
'The work helps to tackle these species and protect native flora from being crowded out of their natural habitat to safeguard the biodiversity of Scotland's wild landscapes.
'It is thanks to the continued generosity of our members and supporters, including players of People's Postcode Lottery, that we're able to continue our vital work to care for and protect Scotland's natural heritage at this special place for everyone to enjoy, now and into the future.'
Players of People's Postcode Lottery have supported NTS's Love Our Nature project since 2022, which benefited from £900,000 last year, and have raised more than £3.4 million since 2014 to support the charity.
Further funding will support nature conservation work across a variety of habitats including coastal and marine areas, peatlands, wetlands, woodland, and the eight national nature reserves cared for by the trust.
Laura Chow, head of charities at People's Postcode Lottery, said: 'Players of People's Postcode Lottery will be delighted to know they are supporting the important work of NTS to protect the biodiversity of our beautiful landscapes.
'Tackling invasive non-native species is vital to ensure the survival of our native plant-life by protecting the natural habitats in which they thrive.'
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Glasgow Times
20 minutes ago
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Veteran, 100, witnessed official ceremony marking Japan's surrender
Reg Draper was a stores assistant on Royal Navy battleship HMS Duke of York, which was sailing off the coast of Japan in August 1945 when the country surrendered. His memories of his time at sea include rationing out a daily tot of rum for every member of the crew and coming off worst in a hockey tackle with Queen Elizabeth II's future husband. Mr Draper, who grew up in Leeds, West Yorkshire, said the crew cheered when news of Japan's surrender came from the captain. He said: 'All the ships mustered in Tokyo Bay with the USS Missouri, which was the American ship, and it was on the Missouri where they signed the peace treaty. Reg Draper pictured in 1944 whilst serving with the Royal Navy (Royal British Legion/Private Collection/PA) 'Then we all came back down to Australia and we went and celebrated – we went down to Tasmania and everybody had four days leave in Hobart. 'Everybody wanted to take us to their home and there were a couple of dances in the dance hall.' Mr Draper witnessed the signing of the Japanese instrument of surrender document firsthand when he went on board the USS Missouri to assist his friend, the ship's official photographer. The 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day is being marked on Friday with a commemorative event organised by the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum. Mr Draper is planning to watch the ceremony on television from his home in Elton, Cheshire. He volunteered for the Royal Navy on his 18th birthday and said the worst part of joining up was having all his teeth removed after a medical examination found he had problems with his gums. He completed his training at the Butlins holiday camp in Skegness and was sent to HMS Ambrose, on a submarine base in Dundee, Scotland, before serving on HMS Duke of York. One of his duties on ship was rationing out the rum for everyone to have an 11am tot. Chiefs and petty officers were served theirs neat, while the rum would be watered down for the rest of the crew, he said. HMS Duke of York passing through the breakwater at Portland Harbour, Dorset, in 1948 (PA) 'I've drunk Navy rum since I've joined up, whenever I could,' Mr Draper said. Asked if that had contributed to his long life, the 100-year-old said: 'Well, that's the only thing I put it down to.' Mr Draper served on HMS Duke of York when it carried out Arctic convoys to deliver supplies to Russia, and in 1945 when it sailed to Sydney, Australia, before joining the East Indies Fleet. He said: 'We started going up to the islands, kicking the Japanese out of the islands as we went.' Japan surrendered on August 15 1945 after the US dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki earlier in the month. Mr Draper said: 'We didn't hear much about it until it got to the captain.' HMS Duke of York was escorted by two Royal Navy destroyers including HMS Whelp – which Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, served on as first lieutenant. Mr Draper said he had a lasting memory of Philip coming on board when the ship was docked. He said: 'We used to have deck hockey on the quarter deck and it was murder playing deck hockey. Reg Draper's certificate of service, confirming his presence as a member of the company on board HMS Duke of York during the Japanese surrender at Tokyo (Royal British Legion/Private Collection/PA) 'He knocked me over once and then the next time he came round he hit me, there's still a mark there, he gave me a clout with his hockey stick. 'He came to see me just to see how I was. They just put a stitch in and it was alright.' The pair met again years after the war, when Mr Draper was in the Royal Navy Reserves and training sea cadets in Wirral and Cheshire for the Duke of Edinburgh awards. He said Philip saw his medals and remembered he had been part of the crew which escorted his ship, but there was no mention of the hockey games. Mr Draper turned 21 on the return journey from Japan, with more than 2,000 people on board the ship because they were carrying prisoners of war home. The father-of-two, who went on to work as an insurance salesman, said it took time to adjust back on dry land. He said: 'When we went through the Bay of Biscay at one time it was that rough that the ship's bows would go 24ft up, 24ft down, just like that. 'You get used to it. Especially if you're in your hammock, it rocks you to sleep. 'One of the most comfortable sleeps I've had is in a hammock!'
Leader Live
23 minutes ago
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Veteran, 100, witnessed official ceremony marking Japan's surrender
Reg Draper was a stores assistant on Royal Navy battleship HMS Duke of York, which was sailing off the coast of Japan in August 1945 when the country surrendered. His memories of his time at sea include rationing out a daily tot of rum for every member of the crew and coming off worst in a hockey tackle with Queen Elizabeth II's future husband. Mr Draper, who grew up in Leeds, West Yorkshire, said the crew cheered when news of Japan's surrender came from the captain. He said: 'All the ships mustered in Tokyo Bay with the USS Missouri, which was the American ship, and it was on the Missouri where they signed the peace treaty. 'Then we all came back down to Australia and we went and celebrated – we went down to Tasmania and everybody had four days leave in Hobart. 'Everybody wanted to take us to their home and there were a couple of dances in the dance hall.' Mr Draper witnessed the signing of the Japanese instrument of surrender document firsthand when he went on board the USS Missouri to assist his friend, the ship's official photographer. The 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day is being marked on Friday with a commemorative event organised by the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum. Mr Draper is planning to watch the ceremony on television from his home in Elton, Cheshire. He volunteered for the Royal Navy on his 18th birthday and said the worst part of joining up was having all his teeth removed after a medical examination found he had problems with his gums. He completed his training at the Butlins holiday camp in Skegness and was sent to HMS Ambrose, on a submarine base in Dundee, Scotland, before serving on HMS Duke of York. One of his duties on ship was rationing out the rum for everyone to have an 11am tot. Chiefs and petty officers were served theirs neat, while the rum would be watered down for the rest of the crew, he said. 'I've drunk Navy rum since I've joined up, whenever I could,' Mr Draper said. Asked if that had contributed to his long life, the 100-year-old said: 'Well, that's the only thing I put it down to.' Mr Draper served on HMS Duke of York when it carried out Arctic convoys to deliver supplies to Russia, and in 1945 when it sailed to Sydney, Australia, before joining the East Indies Fleet. He said: 'We started going up to the islands, kicking the Japanese out of the islands as we went.' Japan surrendered on August 15 1945 after the US dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki earlier in the month. Mr Draper said: 'We didn't hear much about it until it got to the captain.' HMS Duke of York was escorted by two Royal Navy destroyers including HMS Whelp – which Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, served on as first lieutenant. Mr Draper said he had a lasting memory of Philip coming on board when the ship was docked. He said: 'We used to have deck hockey on the quarter deck and it was murder playing deck hockey. 'He knocked me over once and then the next time he came round he hit me, there's still a mark there, he gave me a clout with his hockey stick. 'He came to see me just to see how I was. They just put a stitch in and it was alright.' The pair met again years after the war, when Mr Draper was in the Royal Navy Reserves and training sea cadets in Wirral and Cheshire for the Duke of Edinburgh awards. He said Philip saw his medals and remembered he had been part of the crew which escorted his ship, but there was no mention of the hockey games. Mr Draper turned 21 on the return journey from Japan, with more than 2,000 people on board the ship because they were carrying prisoners of war home. The father-of-two, who went on to work as an insurance salesman, said it took time to adjust back on dry land. He said: 'When we went through the Bay of Biscay at one time it was that rough that the ship's bows would go 24ft up, 24ft down, just like that. 'You get used to it. Especially if you're in your hammock, it rocks you to sleep. 'One of the most comfortable sleeps I've had is in a hammock!'
North Wales Chronicle
24 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Veteran, 100, witnessed official ceremony marking Japan's surrender
Reg Draper was a stores assistant on Royal Navy battleship HMS Duke of York, which was sailing off the coast of Japan in August 1945 when the country surrendered. His memories of his time at sea include rationing out a daily tot of rum for every member of the crew and coming off worst in a hockey tackle with Queen Elizabeth II's future husband. Mr Draper, who grew up in Leeds, West Yorkshire, said the crew cheered when news of Japan's surrender came from the captain. He said: 'All the ships mustered in Tokyo Bay with the USS Missouri, which was the American ship, and it was on the Missouri where they signed the peace treaty. 'Then we all came back down to Australia and we went and celebrated – we went down to Tasmania and everybody had four days leave in Hobart. 'Everybody wanted to take us to their home and there were a couple of dances in the dance hall.' Mr Draper witnessed the signing of the Japanese instrument of surrender document firsthand when he went on board the USS Missouri to assist his friend, the ship's official photographer. The 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day is being marked on Friday with a commemorative event organised by the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum. Mr Draper is planning to watch the ceremony on television from his home in Elton, Cheshire. He volunteered for the Royal Navy on his 18th birthday and said the worst part of joining up was having all his teeth removed after a medical examination found he had problems with his gums. He completed his training at the Butlins holiday camp in Skegness and was sent to HMS Ambrose, on a submarine base in Dundee, Scotland, before serving on HMS Duke of York. One of his duties on ship was rationing out the rum for everyone to have an 11am tot. Chiefs and petty officers were served theirs neat, while the rum would be watered down for the rest of the crew, he said. 'I've drunk Navy rum since I've joined up, whenever I could,' Mr Draper said. Asked if that had contributed to his long life, the 100-year-old said: 'Well, that's the only thing I put it down to.' Mr Draper served on HMS Duke of York when it carried out Arctic convoys to deliver supplies to Russia, and in 1945 when it sailed to Sydney, Australia, before joining the East Indies Fleet. He said: 'We started going up to the islands, kicking the Japanese out of the islands as we went.' Japan surrendered on August 15 1945 after the US dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki earlier in the month. Mr Draper said: 'We didn't hear much about it until it got to the captain.' HMS Duke of York was escorted by two Royal Navy destroyers including HMS Whelp – which Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, served on as first lieutenant. Mr Draper said he had a lasting memory of Philip coming on board when the ship was docked. He said: 'We used to have deck hockey on the quarter deck and it was murder playing deck hockey. 'He knocked me over once and then the next time he came round he hit me, there's still a mark there, he gave me a clout with his hockey stick. 'He came to see me just to see how I was. They just put a stitch in and it was alright.' The pair met again years after the war, when Mr Draper was in the Royal Navy Reserves and training sea cadets in Wirral and Cheshire for the Duke of Edinburgh awards. He said Philip saw his medals and remembered he had been part of the crew which escorted his ship, but there was no mention of the hockey games. Mr Draper turned 21 on the return journey from Japan, with more than 2,000 people on board the ship because they were carrying prisoners of war home. The father-of-two, who went on to work as an insurance salesman, said it took time to adjust back on dry land. He said: 'When we went through the Bay of Biscay at one time it was that rough that the ship's bows would go 24ft up, 24ft down, just like that. 'You get used to it. Especially if you're in your hammock, it rocks you to sleep. 'One of the most comfortable sleeps I've had is in a hammock!'
