SIGHTINGS of an invasive bog plant which threatens native species on the River Tweed catchment are on the rise, according to a new report.

The decorative American Skunk Cabbage (lysichiton americanus) is the latest non-native plant to be targeted for control and eradication by the multi-interest conservation charity, the Tweed Forum.

In their annual report for 2016/17, the trustees of the Drygrange-based forum welcome the recent decision of Dawyck Botanic Garden in Peeblesshire to remove the plant – imported from the United States in the first half of the twentieth century – from its collection.

“This was a difficult decision as the plants were a major tourist attraction,” say the trustees, adding that Dawyck’s decision to take the lead in removing the plant, which shades out and outcompetes native species, had “helped spread the word” leading to an increase in sightings.

It is the latest invasive non-native species to plague the catchment, along with Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam.

The trustees state: “The 2017 invasives control regime is well under way. The project [which began 15 years ago] has been engaging local people to either report sightings or volunteer for training to help with the control effort.

“Ghillies, boatmen and angling associations are the main volunteers on the Tweed and the River Tweed Commission has also trained two bailiffs in invasive plant control.

“In 2016, a new data recording system was introduced, with each sprayed plant logged on a handheld GPS system and then reproduced as a dot on a map.

“This allows us to assess the hotspots and off-river sites more accurately than in previous years and also manage costs and the physical effort deployed on the ground.”

The Tweed Forum has, since April 2015, spearheaded a major scheme, offering grants to landowners to promote the development of small woodlands and native tree-planting in copses, parkland, orchards and along hedgerows.

Aimed at mitigating the impact of the deadly Ash dieback fungus on the Borders landscape, the project has been part-funded by the Forestry Commission, the Woodland Trust Scotland and Scottish Borders Council.

The trustees report that during the second full year of the scheme – to March this year – 36 individual schemes were approved and 4,806 trees were planted.

“Collectively, this means that since the start of the project, a total of 65 schemes have been approved, 9,513 trees have been planted and £60,000 has been allocated in grant aid.”

The trustees reveal that a priority for the forum in the current year will be “to work with the Scottish Government and other bodies and agencies to help develop a policy on land and water management in the post Brexit era”.

The report explains that EU funding will support the monitoring of the forum’s flagship Eddleston Water Project – involving the reintroduction of bends on the river to restore natural habitats and reduce flood risks in Peebles – over the next four years.

“Networking with the other European partners is a prerequisite [of funding] and we have attended meetings in Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark,” state the trustees.