An environmental education charity has launched a two-year programme to encourage local people to keep Moray’s coastline beautiful.
The Blue Gym project, Wild things! aims to boost local tourism by removing invasive plants in coastal habitats across the region.
Through the scheme, which is supported by the Coastal Communities Fund, volunteers will combine outdoor exercise with practical activities to conserve and restore coastal habitats.
The charity will also work closely with local organisations, such as the Whale and Dolphin Conservation and the Rivers and Fisheries Trust.
The project will concentrate on the removal of species such as Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed and Hogweed.
It is hoped that the removal will open up and improve the path and cycle links to the coast and fragile habitats will improve, facilitating the natural regeneration of the rare flora and fauna that attract visitors to Moray.
Jennie Martin, the charity’s founder and executive director, said: “We are just delighted to be able to start work on this much needed project and are very grateful for the Coastal Communities Fund for supporting it.
“Moray has such fantastic native flora that supports a wealth of wildlife, however, these invasive plants are a great threat to our native plant communities as well as all the associated fauna that they support.
“I’m excited to see how our Blue Gym, which supports the health and wellbeing of local people in Moray, can also support the health and wellbeing of our local areas of outstanding and magnificent beauty.”
An information day on the project will be held at Brodie Castle from 2pm-4pm on February 16.