5 Jun 2025

Defying gravity to manage invasive species

Written by Paul Williams

Transcript

I'm Rob Dewar. I work for the National Trust for Scotland and I work as the Invasive Species Project Officer. I work to help protect wonderful properties like here at Corrieshalloch Gorge. Invasive non-native species are plants and animals that have been introduced either accidentally or deliberately into a region where they they've never evolved with the ecosystem. Plants in particular have been moved around the world for many, many years and a lot of these exotic plants thrive in our gardens and we really enjoy them, but it's the ones that are particularly aggressive, the ones that out compete all the native flora, they're the ones that we really need to control because they're the ones so damaging, they can eliminate biodiversity, so it's really important that we look to control and ideally eradicate the most invasive plants. Non-native species have been identified as one of the biggest threats to biodiversity and at the National Trust for Scotland we have a duty of care to try and control the invasive species to try and protect the habitats and the wildlife. It's in our Plan for Nature to do so and it's been identified as one of the key conservation objectives. I think it's also important to protect the habitats for the enjoyment of our visitors as well as our properties.

When the People's Postcode Lottery decided to support our conservation work we were absolutely delighted because it's helped in our control work towards invasive non-native species. Here at Corrieshalloch Gorge, this has helped pay for rope access contract workers that are moving down into the gorge on ropes and tackling the most inaccessible species, so we're incredibly grateful for the People's Postcode Lottery in helping support and tackle this vital conservation work.

Here at Corrieshalloch Gorge, which translates to ‘ugly hollow’ in the Gaelic language, in those days it was probably seen as something inaccessible and quite ugly, but it's far from it, it's one of these wonderful properties that we own. It's the smallest National Nature Reserve in Scotland but has incredible biodiversity just the lichens or mosses alone – we have hundreds of species – and these are under threat by certain invasive non-native species, some of them are the western hemlock rhododendron, these very aggressive plants that put out a lot of shade and potentially will cause extinctions on some of these species that thrive here at the property.

I’ve worked for this wonderful organisation for over 20 years. One of the most enjoyable things to do is to come out and work at these fantastic properties, such as here at Corrieshalloch. It's a privilege for me to help conserve and protect these wonderful properties.

What could’ve been confused for a scene from an action-packed Hollywood blockbuster was just a normal day for us, as our specialists abseiled down the sides Corrieshalloch Gorge NNR to tackle invasive plant species.

The gravity-defying feat was undertaken to tackle the invasive non-native species (INNS), including Japanese knotweed and Rhododendron ponticum, that had established themselves in the crags of the 60m deep gorge at Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve.

Property and conservation staff surveyed the gorge, identifying sites where invasive plants had established themselves on the vertical cliff sides. Specialist rope access contractors have been deployed to wipe out the invasive plants using different methods, mainly stem treatment to apply a targeted dose of herbicide.

A person in high-vis and a helmet is seen at the base of a gorge.

Conservation staff surveyed the gorge identifying sites where invasive plants could established themselves on its vertical cliff sides

The INNS project at Corrieshalloch is supported by funds raised by People’s Postcode Lottery players and awarded by Postcode Earth Trust. It follows the publication of our Plan for Nature, which sets out our ambitions to conserve nature in our care, for which the Trust has special responsibility. The plan outlines the actions the Trust will undertake to address INNS, which have been identified as a main driver of nature loss in Scotland.

A person in high-vis looks down into a gorge

The gravity-defying feat into the 60m deep gorge to remove invasive non-native species (INNS)

Rob Dewar, the Trust’s INNS Project Officer, said: ’Our work at Corrieshalloch is part of our ongoing nature conservation to remove invasive non-native species and demonstrates the extreme lengths we go to, to protect the places in our care. These gravity-defying feats are undertaken by our rope access specialists who support our conservation efforts in these hard-to-reach places where these species can quickly establish themselves, like on the vertiginous sides of the gorge.

’The Trust’s INNS work is focused on eradicating invasive non-native plants, including Japanese knotweed, American skunk cabbage and Rhododendron ponticum. The work helps to tackle these species and protect native flora from being crowded out of their natural habitat to safeguard the biodiversity of Scotland’s wild landscapes.’

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“It is thanks to the continued generosity of our members and supporters, including players of People’s Postcode Lottery, that we’re able to continue our vital work to care for and protect Scotland’s natural heritage at this special place for everyone to enjoy, now and into the future.”

Rob Dewar

The National Trust for Scotland’s INNS Project Officer

A man in a National Trust for Scotland jacket stands on a bridge over Corrieshalloch Gorge.

A person in high-vis and wearing a helmet uses tools to cut Rhododendron ponticum from a slope.

The Trust’s INNS work is focused on eradicating invasive non-native plants

Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have supported the Trust’s Love Our Nature project since 2022, which benefited from £900k last year. Further funding will support nature conservation work across a variety of habitats, including coastal and marine areas, peatlands, wetlands, woodland, and the eight National Nature Reserves cared for by the Trust.

Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, Laura Chow, said: ’Players of People's Postcode Lottery will be delighted to know that they are supporting the important work of the National Trust for Scotland to protect the biodiversity of our country’s beautiful landscapes. Tackling invasive non-native species is vital to ensure the survival of our native plant-life by protecting the natural habitats in which they thrive.’

Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have now raised over £3.4m since 2014 to support the Trust. The funds are awarded through Postcode Earth Trust.

The Love Our Nature project supports our vision to care for, protect and share Scotland’s nature, beauty and heritage for everyone, as outlined in our 10-year strategy, launched in 2022.