A Moray environmental group has vowed to rid the area of foreign plants invading the region’s soil.
Volunteers from Wild Things have devoted their efforts to banishing hazardous giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam from the north-east.
Over the last two and a half years the conservation group has pulled up nearly 40 acres of the invasive plants.
Efforts have been focussed on the Waterford area of Forres while working with the Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Fisheries Trust.
The teams have been rewarded by seeing plants including colourful red campion, comfrey herbs and scrambling fumitory sprouting from the ground where there was only previously a “sea” of giant hogweed.
Despite the progress the group believes it will still take years to eradicate the blight and intends to redouble efforts with the fisheries trust and Whale and Dolphin Conservation to build on the progress.
Jennie Martin, director of Wild Things, revealed volunteers ranging from eight years old to pensioners in their 70s had been involved in the project.
She said: “I’m delighted to say that all the hard work of our volunteers has enabled the native flora and fauna to return in small pockets of land and creating wildlife refuges in and around the Waterford area. This has made our footpaths along the river safer to access for local people and tourists alike.
“The charity is passionate about habitat restoration and the removal of invasive non-native species, supporting this fragile habitat for the benefit of the local community in and around Forres.”
