Image: LAG volunteers at work. Credit: Mersey Rivers Trust.

What is this toolkit for?

This toolkit was developed to support non-native species action on the ground at local, county and regional levels. It includes information, guidance, and practical advice for:

• existing Local Action Groups
• anyone wishing to set up a new Local Action Group to reduce the impacts and risks associated with invasive non-native species in their area

Parts of the toolkit have been adapted from the Wales Resilient Ecological Network (WaREN) Invasive Species Toolkit to support Local Action Groups in Wales, developed by North Wales Wildlife Trust.

We are keen to keep the toolkit as up-to-date and useful as possible, so please contact the Local Action Group Coordinator to suggest improvements or additions.

The information in the toolkit is covered by the NNSS website disclaimer.

In this toolkit

• Setting up a Local Action Group
  • Planning
  • Developing a strategic plan
  • Developing a Terms of Reference
  • Promoting your group and recruiting volunteers
  • Insurance and Health and Safety
  • Biosecurity
  • Funding
• Managing non-native species
  • Planning for management
  • Surveying for non-native species
  • Reporting non-native species
  • Management options
  • Monitoring
• Awareness raising
  • Tips and resources
  • National awareness raising campaigns
  • Training 
• Useful resources

Setting up a Local Action Group

This section provides advice on the first steps to take to establish a Local Action Group in your area. The WaREN invasive species toolkit includes a handy checklist.

Planning

Aims and objectives

What are your aims and what will you do to achieve them? Your aims should be broad targets that you want to achieve. Examples include:

• To reduce the introduction, spread, and impact of invasive non-native species in [area]
• To manage invasive non-native species in [area]
• To raise awareness of the risks and impacts of invasive non-native species throughout [area]
• To coordinate a strategic effort to tackle invasive species in [area]
• To share experience by developing good practice guidance in areas such as, detection, monitoring, control, or removal of invasive non-native species
• To encourage recording and reporting of invasive non-native species in [area]
• To improve biosecurity in [area]

Objectives are more specific than your aims and describe how your LAG will achieve these. Example objectives include:

• To identify the coverage of [species] in [area]
• To eradicate [species] from [area] in [number] years
• To raise awareness of invasive non-native species and their impacts in [area] by attending and organising events, sharing awareness raising materials, and encouraging community involvement.
• To develop a local strategic plan for invasive non-native species.
• To produce case studies of management methods and share these with other Local Action Groups.
• To identify, and keep up to date with, good practice techniques.
• To encourage or coordinate monitoring or surveying for invasive non-native species in [area]
• To encourage uptake of good biosecurity in [area], for example by educating local stakeholders on good practice and providing biosecurity support at recreational events.
• To identify and apply for potential funding to support this work.

Think about making your objectives SMART:

• specific
• measurable
• achievable
• realistic
• timebound

It is also useful to agree:

• the membership of your group including a chair and deputy
• the specific area or region that your group will cover
• a schedule for meetings

Membership of your group

Which local stakeholders do you need to help you achieve your project? These could include:

• Local residents and recreational users
• Landowners (e.g. council, companies)
• “Friends of” and other community action groups or local charities
• Non-governmental organisations (e.g. Wildlife Trusts, Rivers Trusts)
• Local Authority
• Government organisations (e.g. Environment Agency, NatureScot, Natural Resources Wales, Forestry England, Natural England)
• Researchers (e.g. university staff and students)
• Local Records Centre
• Water company

Landowners are a key stakeholder if you are planning to carry out invasive non-native species management. It isn’t always easy to identify the landowner, but you could:

• talk to other partners in your group, or staff in your organisation, who may have local knowledge
• carry out a Land Registry search – not all landowners will be identified
• contact the Parish Council or Natural England

Once you have identified the landowner, you will need to engage them with the project. Other Local Action Groups have used the following methods to contact landowners and involve them in action:

• writing a letter, including information on your project and a stamped addressed envelope for reply
• telephoning landowners or visiting them in person to introduce yourself, rather than sending an email
• explaining the importance of invasive species management, and showing examples of harm to native species and traditional landscapes caused by invasive non-native species
• sharing good experiences too, where management has helped to protect biodiversity

Landowners may be open to investing funding or hiring a contractor to manage invasive species on their patch. Good examples of collaboration with landowners include BASC, NFU and Agri-environment projects.

Developing a strategic plan

How can you prioritise your work to maximise its impact?

A good local strategic plan includes:

• Timelines and milestones
• Budget and time (for example, the number of worker days needed and costs per milestone)
• Regular monitoring to check the project is on track
• Flexibility to adjust the project if needed
• Stakeholder engagement
• Making records and data available to other interested groups.

The strategic plan should include your aims and objectives and the tasks required to achieve them. For example:

• carrying out a survey
• practical removal of invasive non-native species
• monitoring for invasive non-native species
• horizon scanning
• public awareness campaigns
• training for staff and volunteers

Example strategic plans from other Local Action Groups can be found here:

• North East Invasive Non-native Species Strategy and Action Plan
• West Cumbria Rivers Trust Derwent Catchment INNS Strategy and Action Plan
• WaREN strategic plan template

Prioritising action

The cost of controlling invasive non-native species increases as you move from prevention to long term management.

The Invasion Curve illustrates that prevention is the most efficient and least costly method of combating invasive species. As a non-native species becomes more established over time, the effort and associated costs of addressing it escalate exponentially. (From the USDA Forest Service 2005 Invasive Plant Environmental Impact Statement) Invasive Curve (army.mil).

In order of highest priority, projects should aim for:

1. Prevention
2. Eradication
3. Containment
4. Long term management

You can use the following factors to prioritise which species will have the greatest impact and which should be controlled:

1. Current and potential extent of the species on or near the site
2. Current and potential impacts of the species
3. Value of the habitats / areas that the species infests or may infest.
4. Difficulty of control

Each species can be ranked within these categories. For example:

Species with higher rankings should be prioritised. Species with lower rankings are less urgent. 

Non-native species risk assessments are available for certain species which may be useful.

Developing a Terms of Reference

A Terms of Reference or governing document may be useful to help you inform members of the public or potential funders of your groups aims and objectives and how you will achieve these. You should also set out the structure of your group and how this will be run.

View a template for developing a Terms of Reference (from the WaREN toolkit)

Further useful information on developing Terms of Reference can be found in the Natural England Report 'Freshwater Non-Native Species Management Initiatives' (by E. Taylor and E. Lycett, Atkins Ltd), see section 2.25 and Appendices A and B.

Reviewing progress and updating your documents

You should regularly review the progress of your project and adjust the terms of reference, aims and objectives and local strategic plan where necessary to keep your project on target. Many Local Action Groups hold project meetings with relevant stakeholders every three or six months to review progress.

Promoting your group and recruiting volunteers

It’s important to promote your group to engage local stakeholders and find volunteers to help with your work. Contact the LAG Coordinator to have your group added to the Local Action Group list. Other ways to promote your work include:

• Creating a group on social media - keep it updated and post it in local community pages, websites, blogs and forums.
• Talking to friends, other local organisers and community groups – arrange to meet with them at their venue
• Sending a press release to local media
• Creating a poster and flyer about your work and place it around the community, for example in community buildings and centres, and local shops, post offices, libraries and doctors surgeries.
• Running a stall at an agricultural show or similar local events
• Giving a presentation on your work to local groups.

Local Action Groups have shared advice on where to find volunteers:

• Existing “friends of” and community groups such as ‘Green Gyms’ and Tree Wardens
• Recreational groups including angling and paddling clubs, Scout and Guide groups, biological recorders, and Allotment groups
• Other community groups such as the Women’s Institute, Asylum Groups, Young Farmers and Parish and church groups.
• Private sector volunteering days
• Social Prescribing
• Universities/Students’ Unions
• Young people working towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Probation Service
• John Muir Trust

To attract and retain volunteers you could:

• Show how the work links to other environmental issues
• Provide free refreshments, transport, and any equipment or kit required
• Provide free training or development opportunities and awareness raising materials
• Tailor the tasks to the interests of the volunteer group
• Give volunteers an area that they can take ownership of
• Vary tasks to keep volunteer groups interested, they could help with raising awareness, recruiting, mapping, campaigning, fundraising and preparing bids or habitat restoration after INNS management
• Hold a ‘thank you’ event
• Send out a regular newsletter with updates on the project to highlight successes and how volunteer work has made a difference

The following organisations provide further useful information on working with volunteers:

• Wales Council for Voluntary Action
• Volunteer England
• Volunteer Scotland
• The Conservation Volunteers 

Insurance and Health and Safety

Insurance

Important: The information in the LAG toolkit, including this section, is covered by the NNSS website disclaimer.. The NNSS cannot endorse, and does not provide recommendations on, insurance for LAGs.

Insurance is very important and will be required if you are planning to conduct any events, activities, or meetings. Having insurance will not only protect your group and volunteers but also show that you act responsibly. Examples of where you can find insurance include:

• Trust for conservation volunteers offers discounted insurance for members underwritten by Zurich.
• Zurich offers a ‘charity, club and not-for-profit insurance’.
• Local council, you may also be able to get volunteer insurance through your local council.
• Keep Wales Tidy offer a ‘Community Group Insurance Scheme’. Basic insurance is free to groups formed in the last 12 months.

Local Action Groups are recommended to check through what is covered, and make sure to clear up any ambiguity directly with an insurer before going ahead.

You should check and follow your organisation’s health and safety guidance and requirements.

Examples of health and safety issues to consider:

1. Have you carried out a site-specific risk assessment and any additional risk assessments for higher risk activities such as spraying pesticides?
2. Have you produced a safety briefing for everyone working on the project?
3. Do you have suitable supervision for volunteers?
4. Do you have a first aider with adequate equipment?
5. Has equipment had any necessary checks, for example PAT testing of electric equipment?
6. Do staff or volunteers need CRB checks (e.g. if working with children) and are you familiar with any relevant guidelines?
7. Do you have sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff and volunteers, including consideration of the weather and time of year?
8. Is your insurance up to date and do you need cover for liability?
9. Do you have up to date contacts for volunteers and information on any relevant medical issues?
10. Do staff or volunteers have the correct training or certification for relevant activities such as spraying pesticides?
11. Do you have access to refreshments and welfare facilities (e.g. handwashing and toilet facilities)?

It could be worthwhile for groups to investigate specific insurance cover for activities that are deemed to be dangerous.

Useful information and resources on health and safety

• Volunteering: guidance for employers (HSE).
• Example risk assessment (developed by WaREN).
• Volunteer Health & Safety Cards developed by the Source to Sea Project for use during practical tasks – the cards contain useful information about volunteers in case of emergency.
• The Countryside Code – Respect, Protect, Enjoy.
• Environment Agency guidance on water safety.

Biosecurity

When working or volunteering in the field, there is a risk that you could accidentally spread invasive non-native species and other biosecurity threats, such as diseases, between sites on your clothing, footwear, equipment or vehicle.

You can reduce the risk by following a good biosecurity routine. Biosecurity means taking steps to make sure that good hygiene practices are in place to reduce and minimise the risk of spreading invasive non-native species. It’s important to do this every time, even if you can’t see any invasive non-native species or diseases, as they can be spread from tiny fragments or invisible to the eye.

Biosecurity should be considered at the earliest stage when planning any field work, from surveying an area to removing non-native species. Some biosecurity measures can be as simple and as quick as making sure footwear is clean.

Basic biosecurity measures include:

1. If practical do not take vehicles onto premises, keep to established tracks and park vehicles on hard standing.
2. Arrive at the site with clean equipment, footwear and vehicle.
3. Ensure equipment and footwear is clean (visually from soil and debris) before leaving the site.
4. Ensure vehicle is kept clean - in particular, remove any accumulated mud before leaving the site.
5. Make use of facilities provided on the site to clean footwear/equipment.
6. Keep access to a minimum.
7. Where possible avoid areas of livestock or known disease.
8. Plan visits so that the highest risk site is visited last.

If you are working in or close to water, remember to:

• Check your equipment, boat, and clothing after leaving the water for mud, aquatic animals or plant material. Remove anything you find and leave it at the site.
• Clean everything thoroughly as soon as you can, paying attention to areas that are damp or hard to access. Use hot water if possible.
• Dry everything for as long as you can before using elsewhere as some invasive plants and animals can survive for over two weeks in damp conditions.

View further biosecurity guidance for anyone working or volunteering in the field. Free online biosecurity training is available.

Funding

Funding is essential for delivering LAG projects and being successful. When applying for funding you could highlight how it supports the GB Invasive Non-native Species Strategy.

The following are possible options for funding for your group.

UK Government

The UK Government and Local Authorities will sometimes have funding grants available which can be used for Local Action Groups for Invasive Species Management. You can search for government grants through the following links:

• DirectGov information on finding funding
• Local Authority and Internal Drainage Board Funding for studies, strategies and projects that will reduce the risk of flooding from the sea and rivers
• Stewardship Schemes e.g.:
  • Environmental stewardship Scheme (NE)
  • Countryside Stewardship Scheme (NE)
  • Higher Level Stewardship Grants - you are able to apply more than once
• Farming in Protected Landscapes
• Carbon Reduction Fund
• Natural England Species Recovery Programme
• Woodland Management Plan Grant

Local Authorities may have funding available through schemes such as Biodiversity Net Gain, Local Nature Recovery Strategies and Climate Resilience programmes. Find your Local Authority.

Remember, Local Authorities may be the landowners in the area you are working. Some Local Action Groups have reached agreements for funding with Local Authorities as the landowner to manage INNS on their sites.

Many Local Action Groups agree funding agreements with a government agency on a local basis. For example.

• Environment Agency
• Forestry England
• Forestry Commission
• Natural England

These are often agreed on an annual basis in line with department spending. If you would like help finding or working with local representatives from the above agencies, please contact the LAG Coordinator.

Welsh Government

• Valleys and Regional Parks

Scottish Government

• Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SVCO) funding website - allows you to search for funding available to community groups by sector (e.g. environment)
• Scottish Natural Heritage Grants - Projects which get more people and communities actively involved in and caring for Scotland's nature and landscapes
• Scottish Rural Development Programme - Rural Priorities (The Scottish Government)
• Forestry Grant Scheme (Forestry Commission Scotland) - Woods In and Around Towns (WIAT) Challenge Fund and Forestry for People (F4P) Challenge Fund.
• Climate Challenge Fund

Water Companies

Water companies fund a number of LAG Projects around the UK. View information on funding opportunities from individual water companies below:

• Anglian Water funding opportunities
• Affinity Water funding opportunities – including the annual “INNS Out” scheme
• Northumbria Water and Essex and Suffolk Water funding opportunities including Branch Out funding for INNS
• Severn Trent Water funding opportunities including the “Boost For Biodiversity” Fund which Local Action Groups can apply to for invasive management
• South West Water funding opportunities including the neighbourhood fund
• Thames Water funding opportunities which have previously included the wetlands and community days programme
• United Utilities funding opportunities including a community fund
• Wessex Water funding opportunities including an Environment Fund
• Yorkshire Water funding opportunities - view information on funded projects.

Some water companies provide a Water Restoration Fund.

Landowners

Many Local Action Groups take donations from landowners where INNS work is being carried out.

Other non-governmental organisations

A number of non-governmental organisations fund work to support environmental and community action. Examples previously used by Local Action Groups are listed below:

• National Lottery funding
• Heritage Lottery Fund
• Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
• Veolia Environmental Trust and Sustainability Fund
• Greggs Foundation
• Sustainability West Midlands
• Biffa Award
• Groundwork Community Grants and information on applying for a Groundwork Community grant
• The Angling Trust Angling Improvement Fund (funded by income from rod licence sales)

Further grants and funders can be found through:

• Grant Finder
• Environmental Funders Network
• Grants Online
• UK Fundraising

Funding for research

The Wellcome Trust provide funding for biomedical research and the medical humanities, with the aim of improving human and animal health.

Please contact the LAG Coordinator with any other funding suggestions you have.

Managing non-native species

Planning for management

Before beginning management, it is important to:

1. Know the species – which species are on site, what are their characteristics and impacts? 
2. Know the site – what are the characteristics of the habitat and environment? Think about access and safety.
3. Know the neighbours – who are the landowners, are there volunteers who can help support the work?

You should carry out a survey to determine the extent of INNS coverage in your area. View a database of non-native species information to learn out more about any species you find.

Surveying for non-native species

Surveys are vital to detect new non-native species at an early stage before they establish and spread and become a significantly more costly problem. Surveys for early detection should be carefully designed and targeted to give usually a yes (present) or no (absent) answer for an area. Surveys may also be required to monitor progress of a management plan or to confirm absence of a species following an eradication programme.

There are three types of surveys:

• General
• Site specific
• Species specific

General surveys

For large or conspicuous animals and plants this is a looking survey. Staff and the public should be encouraged to be vigilant and report new sightings. Interest groups such as botanical societies should also be encouraged to undertake specific searches for new emergent species.

Site specific surveys

These are surveys targeted at key sites such as high value biodiversity areas or areas near high-risk entry points. Surveys should extend beyond the entry point depending on the habitat, geography, and tracks and roads around the entry point.

High-risk entry points for terrestrial and marine species include:

• Terrestrial species: airports, seaports, and container or freight unpacking areas
• Marine species: harbours

Species-specific surveys

Where specific threats are identified and prioritised it will be appropriate to carry out regular surveys. It is important to consider the frequency and timing of surveys.

View non-native species identification guides for over 60 different species to help with identification in the field.

Survey tips

Some tips on carrying out surveys for different groups are included below.

Vertebrates

Site-specific survey tips:

• Search for signs such as tracks, droppings, feeding damage.
• Know your fauna and look for new species.
• Find out who the local experts and contacts are.
• If you find a new species record it carefully, report it and ensure it is identified rapidly. View information on reporting below.

Mammals

Species-specific survey tips:

• When surveying for large mammals such as deer, look for sightings of the mammal and distinctive signs such as tracks and feeding damage.
• Annual or biennial surveys by a knowledgeable observer will suffice for large mammals.
• Surveying for smaller mammals such as rodents and feral cats needs to be seasonally timed, habitat selective, and more intensive as they are more difficult to detect in low numbers.

Also see the JNCC guidance on Common Standards Monitoring .

Insects

Species-specific survey tips:

• Collaborate with local entomologists to design survey methods to suit the insect being surveyed.
• Base the survey on specific behaviours and characteristics of the invader.
• Make use of very specific effective trapping methods such as pheromone traps or targeted lure traps where possible.

Reptiles

Species-specific survey tips:

• Trapping using rodents as bait in double compartment traps has been effective.
• General survey and high level of public awareness is also important.

Freshwater fish and invertebrates

Species-specific survey tips:

• The angling community can be very useful in detecting new fish introductions.
• Select fish and invertebrate sampling techniques according to habitat, depth of water and species sought.
• Fish sampling techniques include gill nets, trawls, seine nets, rotenone, angling and electroshocking.
• Invertebrate sampling techniques range from ponar grabs for benthic organisms to plankton tows for planktonic organisms.

Plants

Species-specific survey tips:

• Use identification aids such as the ID sheets on this website, field guides, books and illustrations.
• ID training may be necessary.

Marine species

Site-specific survey tips:

• Organise a team of marine taxonomists (probably volunteering their time) to focus on examining dock fouling at a series of stations over a short period of time (e.g. one week).
• Dock fouling can be quickly and effectively sampled without regard to the tide level.
• Regular monitoring of this kind might be suitable following an eradication programme.

Reporting non-native species sightings

In Britain we are lucky to have a wealth of information about our plants and animals that has been collected by enthusiastic recorders for over 200 years. All non-native species records are useful, helping to identify trends and track spread.

By far the most important data you can provide are ‘early warning’ records of new non-native species and those that are only just starting to establish. Non-native Alert species should be reported immediately to prevent them from becoming widely established in Britain.

View a list of GB Alert species and download an alert species poster to help you remember which species to look out for

Report a non-native species sighting through iRecord

Other tools are available to help record your survey data. The INNS Mapper app and website was developed to support non-native species management. Over 60 widespread non-native species can be recorded through INNS Mapper, and you can record any management work you carry out.

Read more on recording non-native species and other recording platforms you can use.

Management

There are four broad options for managing invasive non-native species. In order of preference these are:

1. Eradication
2. Containment
3. Control
4. Long term management

Whichever management option is chosen it is vitally important to choose the most appropriate methods and to carry out the action at the most appropriate time of the year or life stage of the invader.

There are four main methods for controlling invasive non-native species:

Manual or mechanical

• Plants: e.g. using person power or machinery to cultivate, hoe, pull, cut, rake, dredge, to uproot or cut weeds
• Animals: e.g. trapping, shooting and seine netting or electrofishing for fish

Chemical

Applying specific chemicals e.g. herbicides and insecticides.

Biological / Natural

Using pests, diseases or predators from the native range of an invasive species as an eradication or control method.

Environmental

Altering the environment so that a habitat or ecosystem is more resilient to invasive non-native species, e.g. increasing or decreasing water velocity.  

View further information on management methods for specific species. Page 26 of the WaREN Toolkit contains a handy guide on leading a management day.

Important information on management

The information in the LAG toolkit, including this section, is covered by the NNSS website disclaimer. The following information has been provided by the Environment Agency and NatureScot:

Herbicides

The use of herbicides in or near to rivers, canals, lakes and drainage channels in England and Wales requires prior agreement from the Environment Agency. In Scotland, you can apply herbicide to an invasive non-native plant, growing within 1 metre of the top of the bank, without contacting SEPA as long as you follow the rules set out in GBR 23g; additional authorisation is needed for other plants, or any plants in the water (Supporting Guidance (WAT-SG-18) (sepa.org.uk)).

View information on spraying INNS with herbicides in Scotland.

Disposing of plant material

Correct disposal of plant material is vital to avoid the risk of spreading the problem further. Most plant waste should be either composted or burned within the same site it was managed on. If this is not possible, the material should be disposed of by the local council, who should be informed if waste contains knotweed. Large volumes of waste requiring burial on-site may require a licence under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations 2002. Always contact the Environment Agency for England and Wales (Tel: 08708 506 506) for advice on disposal because there are regulations which cover the composting, burning and burial of plant materials on-site and the transfer and disposal of material including ash to licensed or permitted landfill sites. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, guidance on Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and other invasive plants is available on the NetRegs website. 

View information on disposing of invasive non-native plants (gov.uk).

Japanese knotweed

Japanese Knotweed cannot be composted. Read more on controlling and disposing of Japanese knotweed (England and Wales) or NetRegs (Scotland and Northern Ireland). Failure to ensure safe, legal disposal or obtain an appropriate licence or exemption could result in prosecution. The information in these pages is covered by our disclaimer.

Biosecurity must also be taken into account to prevent spreading INNS on and off the site you are managing.

Monitoring

To evaluate the success of management efforts you should monitor the population of a target species or condition of a target area.

To help review progress you can set a series of sub-targets on the way to the final goal. These could include the numbers of invasive non-native species that remain, or the condition of the ecosystem they are in.

Remember:

• Monitoring the numbers of animals / square metres of plants removed measures the amount of work carried out, but not the success of the programme.
• You should continue monitoring after management is complete as removal of an invasive species does not automatically lead to the return of native species and improvement in habitat condition, sometimes removal results in colonisation by other non-native species

Awareness raising

Awareness raising is an essential part of an INNS management strategy. Local Action Groups communicate on all levels (locally, regionally and nationally) with a wide range of stakeholders.

Tips and resources

Key topics for awareness raising

Important topics for awareness raising include:

• what invasive non-native species are
• why they are a problem
• what your project is doing to reduce their impacts
• how people can help, for example by joining your Local Action Group, looking out for and recording non-native species, or preventing the spread of invasive non-native species from their gardens or through their recreational activities.

Some good examples of awareness raising activities suggested by other Local Action Groups are included in the planning section. 

Resources to help with awareness raising

View a list of awareness raising materials and other resources available to help you.

Tips for effective communication

To engage your target audience you could:

• use examples of impacts which are relevant to the audience you are trying to engage, for example non-native species which are a local issue, or that impact on your audience’s hobbies, financial assets or way of life
• use impactful images - a gallery of photos is available to help
• include positive messages demonstrating the successes of your project, or the potential benefits to local wildlife or habitats
• link to national campaigns to show the wider impact of your work

National awareness raising campaigns

The NNSS leads two national awareness raising campaigns to prevent the spread of invasive non-native species, with the support of many partner organisations including Local Action Groups.

The Check Clean Dry campaign provides simple guidance for recreational water users on preventing the spread of invasive aquatic species on boats, clothing and equipment used in water.

Local Action Groups can help by sharing information and materials with local water users and clubs. Specific advice and awareness raising materials have been developed for a range of groups including anglers, paddlers and boaters and free copies are available to order.

Learn more about Check Clean Dry and view a full list of Check Clean Dry materials.

The Be Plant Wise campaign for gardeners and aquarium owners aims to prevent the spread of invasive non-native plants.

Local Action Groups can help by sharing information and materials with local gardeners, or giving retailers a Be Plant Wise pack. Tips and materials are available for gardeners, pond and aquarium owners, retailers and professionals and free copies are available to order.

Learn more about Be Plant Wise and view a full list of Be Plant Wise materials.  

The NNSS leads an annual Invasive Species Week in the spring to raise awareness of invasive non-native species and celebrate the work of partners including Local Action Groups. View highlights from the most recent Invasive Species Week and find out how you can take part in the next.

Information and key messages

• View other awareness raising resources and materials

Training

Some Local Action Groups provide training for local stakeholders, such as recreational water users. View non-native species training resources including free online training modules from the NNSS covering:

• an introduction to non-native species
• identification and recording
• identification of key freshwater plants
• identification of key freshwater invertebrates
• identification of key riparian plants
• biosecurity

Training packs containing the content of these modules are available for you to use in your own presentations, contact the NNSS to request these.

Useful resources

This page contains links to further useful resources for Local Action Groups. Many have been developed by Local Action Groups. If you would like to add anything to this section, please contact the LAG Coordinator.

Setting up a Local Action Group

• WaREN Local Action Group Toolkit
• Tweed Invasives Project report - the lessons learned in particular will be useful for a new Local Action Group.

Strategic plans

• North East Invasive Non-native Species Strategy and Action Plan
• West Cumbria Rivers Trust Derwent Catchment INNS Strategy and Action Plan
• WaREN strategic plan template

Terms of reference

• WaREN Toolkit Template for a Terms of Reference
• Natural England Report 'Freshwater Non-Native Species Management Initiatives' (by E. Taylor and E. Lycett, Atkins Ltd), see section 2.25 and Appendices A and B.

Surveying and management

• Tracking Mammals Partnership Guidelines on Best Practice in Surveillance and Monitoring
• ID sheets for non-native species 
• INNS Mapper tool for recording surveys and management
• Resources on managing a range of non-native species, including the following resources developed by LAGs:

Himalayan balsam

• Biocontrol Handbook: Himalayan Balsam (teesriverstrust.org)- Tees Rivers Trust
• Balsam Action Toolkit - Wye Valley AONB (wyevalley-nl.org.uk)- Wye Valley AONB 

Floating Pennywort

• Public Pennywort Guide Draft 1 (keepbritaintidy.org) – RiverCare BeachCare
• Invasive Non-Native Species - Angling Trust
• ATBC Cut and Float Video and Still Water management videos

Japanese Knotweed

• Biocontrol Handbook: Japanese knotweed (teesriverstrust.org)- Tees Rivers Trust

Mink

• Waterlife Recovery Trust - Saving our native wildlife from the introduced American Mink- Waterlife Recovery Trust

Biosecurity

• Biosecurity guidance for anyone working or volunteering in the field
• Free online biosecurity training

Non-native species information

• NNSIP database of information on non-native species in GB 
• Non-native species risk assessments

Education and awareness raising

• Awareness raising resources and materials
• Training resources