Latest news with #invasiveplants
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Invasive plants killed off in deep Highland gorge
Invasive non-native plants have been cleared from crags of a 60m (197ft) deep gorge in the Highlands. Corrieshalloch, south of Ullapool, was created by meltwater from glaciers at the end of the last ice age about 11,000 years ago, and has a 45m (148ft) waterfall. The mile-long canyon takes its name from Gaelic for "ugly hollow". National Trust for Scotland (NTS) received funding for the work which involved contractors abseiling into the gorge. The plants removed or killed off included Japanese knotweed, rhododendron ponticum and American skunk cabbage. The species, brought to the UK from other parts of the world for planting in gardens, can smother native plants and damage fragile habitats. NTS said the work at Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve was part of its wider efforts to conserve native species. Abseilers drop in to tackle river's giant hogweed New centre opens at 'ugly hollow' Highland gorge
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Camels help eradicate invasive prickly acacia in outback Queensland trial
Dozens of giant creatures with stomachs of steel have proved a powerful enemy to one of the most invasive plants in the Queensland outback. Over four years, camels have been introduced to prime grazing paddocks to eat a thorny weed called prickly acacia. The invasive plant, introduced to Queensland in the early 1900s, is estimated to cost landholders $27.5 million yearly in lost production. The acacia's prolific spread means eradication is no longer considered an option. The trial began in Muttaburra in Western Queensland, and the results are in — the humped mammals have beaten, and eaten, the weed. More than 30 camels have been dining on a 40,000-hectare property as part of the trial, and while they failed to kill the plant, they did keep it at bay. Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) operations manager Geoff Penton said the trial proved how effective the camels could be in slowing the weed's spread. "It's an effective method." Unlike cattle or sheep, when a camel eats the prickly acacia's flowers, the seeds do not pass through into their faeces. It means the weed's spread is stopped in its tracks. Mr Penton said one camel for every 1,000 prickly acacia plants was an ideal ratio. "We found that grass makes up roughly only a third of their diet, so they predominantly will eat the prickly acacia," he said. According to DCQ, prickly acacia is one of Australia's worst weeds, and under good conditions can produce more than 170,000 seeds per tree in a year, completely taking over landscapes. Left uncontrolled, it is estimated that within five years, the weed could dominate 95 per cent of Mitchell Grass Downs, which spans more than 470,000 square kilometres across Queensland and into the Northern Territory. Mr Penton said the second stage of the DCQ trial was underway, evaluating the camel's impact during seasonal changes, and more landholders wanted to join the program. Paul Keegan has been a cameleer for 40 years at his property near Mount Isa in North West Queensland. Mr Keegan supplied some of his 300 camels to the DCQ trial and said the results were exactly what he expected. "Unless you implement something to take the flower and seed out, landholders are going to keep going around spraying and spraying [herbicides]," he said. Camels have had a bad reputation in some parts of rural Australia, with feral populations stealing feed, destroying fences and drinking water meant for cattle. But Mr Keegan said if landholders wanted to get on top of prickly acacia, they should swap out herbicides for the herbivores. "Inside the fence at the trial site there was no [prickly acacia] grass thanks to the camels, and outside the fence the grass is up around your knees," he said. For 25 years, camels have eaten prickly acacia across David Batt's 80,000-hectare cattle and sheep station, west of Winton. Mr Batt said he could not quantify how much money he had saved on herbicides by using camels, but it would be substantial. "It's well worth it," he said. While camels may "get a bit of a bad rap" as pests in Australia, Mr Batt said he had no problem with them mingling with his stock.
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Invasive plant pathogen myrtle rust detected at National Museum of Australia, sparking concerns for eucalypts
The invasive plant pathogen myrtle rust has been detected near the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, concerning experts. Myrtle rust is a bright yellow-looking fungus that infects plants, like other fungal infections, by penetrating into a plant's living tissue. Originally from South America, the single strain that's made it to Australia can be found on a plant's young leaves, flower buds and young fruits and will in severe cases appear as a yellow sticky powder. It targets the eucalypt family — which includes not just eucalypts but tea trees, lilly pillies and other plants — with sometimes devastating effect. Founder of the Invasive Species Council Tim Low said 16 species of rainforest tree were likely to go extinct without emergency intervention. The pathogen was first reported in the gardens of the National Museum of Australia by a citizen scientist in February. The citizen scientist put the location of the infected plants in the National Museum gardens, off Lawson Crescent and the Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre. The report was later confirmed by the ACT government's biosecurity and invasive plants team and the NSW Department of Primary Industries, which found two Geraldton wax flower plants were infected. They were removed in April. Mr Low told the ABC the Canberra plant most susceptible to myrtle rust was the prickly tea tree, but called the Geraldton wax flower "highly vulnerable" and noted the pathogen might cause greater damage to garden plants than natives if it were to spread across the ACT. The ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD) said follow-up surveillance on the infection would be conducted again in spring. This infection does not mark the first myrtle rust detection in Canberra. EPSDD says myrtle rust was detected in 2022 at a plant nursery, but the plants were removed and the nursery has remained free of the pathogen since. And according to to the National Myrtle Rust Working Group, the invasive plant pathogen has been detected multiple times at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. But this infection at the National Museum has sparked more concern, with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water updating its webpage on myrtle rust to include the ACT in response. "The Australian National Botanical Garden had several detections of myrtle rust before, but none of them has established," Dr Benjamin Schwessinger, a researcher at the Australian National University studying myrtle rust and other fungi which infect plants in Australia, told the ABC. When asked about the significance of the National Museum myrtle rust detection, Dr Schwessinger said it indicated a possible wider spread. "The National Museum is a well-frequented place … So if it's probably detected there, it's probably not the first real incursion on the only affected tree in the ACT," he said. "It's an airborne pathogen. So, yeah, it gets blown around quite a bit. It can probably travel thousands of kilometres in the air." He said myrtle rust became concerning when it was "established" – meaning the infection was seen year on year in the same area. However, that the National Museum infection was detected out of season is also a concern. "We would normally not expect it. It's more [likely] in springtime," Dr Schwessinger said. Mr Low also noted the risk of myrtle rust spread but added Canberra's weather might help fight back against the pathogen. "It's really good at spreading. It's spreading on the wind, it's spread by honeybees," he said. He said the pathogen could be treated with fungicides but this was often not feasible in a national park or wild area, and advocated for the government to instate tighter biosecurity measures against myrtle rust. "We ... are not confident they are doing everything they can to keep out myrtle rust strains," he said.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
We were slapped with £60k repair bill after neighbours' WEEDS invaded our home – all the signs you could be next
A COUPLE were hit with a £60,000 repair bill after their neighbours' weeds spread into their home – here are the warning signs to watch out for. A husband and wife, who asked to remain anonymous, were shocked to find leaves sprouting through the floor of their conservatory in their Brighton home. 8 8 8 After digging up the path between the houses, the couple discovered the bamboo belonged to their neighbour. Despite not being classed as an invasive species in the UK, the plant is renowned for spreading fast. Bamboo is remarkably strong — its tensile strength can reach up to an astonishing 28,000 pounds per square inch, making it stronger than steel in some cases. The couple now face demolishing their conservatory, with the cost set to be covered by their neighbour's building insurer under a liability damage claim. The husband said: "We hoped that if we dug up the rhizome underneath the path between our properties, that would solve the problem, but it quickly became apparent that it was much more serious. "We've had to have the conservatory demolished, it will cost us around £60k to replace it." A survey of more than 2,000 people revealed that around 54 per cent of homeowners are unaware of the risks bamboo poses to properties. Emily Grant, director of Environet, an invasive plant removal firm, stated that it is the responsibility of the plant owner to prevent it from spreading into neighbouring homes. She also added that anyone considering buying a property with bamboo present should commission a bamboo survey to assess the potential risks and ensure they don't face legal claims 'as soon as you move in'. As the sunny weather encouraged us to be outside, many homeowners have turned their attention to their gardens. Map reveals worst areas for Japanese knotweed with fears plant will wipe thousands off house prices But while a vibrant outdoor space can be a source of pride, some of the most common garden plants could be quietly putting your home at risk from damage. Left unchecked, these popular plants could lead to costly repairs, rising premiums, and even civil action. Here, home insurance experts at Norton Insurance Brokers have identified the top five plants which could be putting you at risk… 1. Wisteria Known for its elegant, cascading blooms, wisteria can be surprisingly aggressive behind the scenes. It grows quickly and develops thick, woody stems that twist around anything in their path. 2. Bamboo There was a bamboo crisis invading people's homes last year, with numerous reports of the plant overtaking gardens, and in some cases, breaking into properties. The problem appears to be getting worse, with a 69 per cent increase in UK searches for 'how to get rid of bamboo' suggesting that more homeowners are now struggling to contain it. 3. English Ivy English ivy is a classic sight on British homes and garden walls, loved for its evergreen charm and cottage core appeal. But don't let appearances fool you, ivy is notorious for causing damage to the very structures it clings to. 4. Tall trees Trees can add beauty, shade, and value to a property, but if they're too close to your home, they could be doing more harm than good. Many insurers are wary of trees over five metres tall growing within seven metres of a property, and with good reason. 5. Jasmine Another garden favourite, jasmine, is loved for its delicate white flowers and unmistakable fragrance. However, while its scent may be unbeatable, jasmine can quietly cause damage if left unchecked, particularly when grown close to the home. In summer, jasmine can form a thick green mat that masks underlying vulnerabilities. Gardening mistakes that could get you fined Gardening experts over at Toolstation have revealed the garden laws you need to be aware of not breaking. While some of these laws could land you with a fine of up to £20,000 in extreme cases, a friendly chat with your neighbours can usually resolve any issues. Tree removal and pruning: If you have a tree in your garden you want to get rid of you better think twice and do your research. The gardening experts reveal: 'If one neighbour wishes to remove or heavily prune a tree that the other neighbour values, disputes can arise over the impact on the view, shade, or privacy. " While it might cause a row, if it is in your property boundary it is ultimately your choice, unless it has a Tree Protection Order on it. 'But, some trees may be protected by a Tree Protection Order which makes it an offence to uproot, top or destroy them, the experts warn. The maximum fine for breaking this law is £20,000, so make sure you double check if it does have a TPO. You can find out by contacting your local council for a map that shows this information. Alternatively, you can ask to speak with your local tree officer. Property boundaries and fences: One of the main causes of neighbours falling out is through arguing over property boundaries and fencing. To avoid this situation, the gardening pros recommend checking the deeds of your property to determine the correct boundaries 'Most of the time, it's easy to determine who owns the fence as the fence posts will usually be on the owners side," they add. 'Additionally, the height of fences or hedges can cause disputes between neighbours if one party feels the height has exceeded the two metre guidance. "Hedges and fences should be no more than two metres high, and you could be asked by the council to take them down if a neighbour complains about the height. "Luckily, standard fence sizes are less than two metres tall so you shouldn't have a problem.' Garden structures and additions: A pergola is the perfect addition to a garden if you want somewhere to relax in the shade. But if it obstructs your neighbour's view or violates local building regulations it could cause a dispute, as can sheds and other garden structures. 'If you're not sure, have a chat with your neighbours to let them know what you're planning and, if there's an issue, get in touch with your local council who can give you more guidance," advise the gardening experts. Overhanging branches and plants: 'When branches, vines, or roots from one neighbour's tree or plant extend into the neighbouring property, it can lead to disagreements over potential damage to structures, blocked views, or the burden of maintenance," reveal the pros. However, it's important to note you can only trim overhanging branches up to the boundary of your property otherwise, it could be seen as trespassing. You can climb into the tree to carry out the work if needed, but only on your property and make sure to stay on your side of the fence if you don't have permission to enter 8 8 8 8 8
