Invasive Species Week: 20th -26th May 2024

It's Invasive Species Week soon! Check out how you can get involved and help stop the spread of invasive species.

What is Invasive Species Week?

Invasive Species Week is a national, annual event led by the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat. It aims to raise awareness of invasive species and celebrate action in preventing their spread.

What are invasive species?

Invasive species are non-native species that have been intentionally or unintentionally introduced beyond their native range by humans.

Importantly, their spread threatens native biodiversity and can cause damage to the environment, the economy, our health, and the way we live.

Check out and learn about some common invasive species here!

Invasive non-native species American signal crayfish ©Trevor Renals

Japanese knotweed © Vaughn Matthews

Asian hornet worker © National Bee Unit

How are they spread?

Once present in the environment, invasive species can spread naturally or by humans!

We can all easily and accidentally spread invasive species in many different ways, including in our everyday activities, such as going for a walk, gardening, or fishing.

Find out more about how you can Stop the Spread of invasive species on our biosecurity webpage!

Demonstration of how seeds can be easily transported by humans e.g. on footwear — © WaREN - NWWT

Why are they a problem?

Invasive species have been identified as one of the five main drivers of biodiversity loss globally!

The Intergovenmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) top 5 ecological stressors

They can have many negative impacts on nature and our environment. For example, they can compete for resources, such as light and water, predate on native species, carry new diseases, and hybridise with native species.

They also have a major economic impact, which is estimated to cost the GB economy almost £2 billion a year! And these costs are only likely to be increasing.

What is being done to prevent this?

The Limestone Grassland Restoration project is further surveying the spread and abundance of invasive non-native cotoneaster, prioritising protected sites across North Wales. Gardeners have been involved in our Plant Swap Scheme by removing their garden cotoneaster to receive a £20 National Gardening Gift voucher. Made possible thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The focus of the Garden Escapers project is in preventing ornamental plants which might currently be showing 'invasive behaviour' in gardens from escaping into the wild and becoming invasive species in future. We are doing this by exploring novel ways of engaging with gardeners and those who have a key role in stopping the spread of invasive species.

Himalayan balsam bashing at Parish Field — © Jess Minett - WaREN

The Wales Resilient Ecological Network (WaREN) project is developing a collaborative and sustainable approach to tackling invasive species across Wales. We are achieving this by supporting Local Action Groups and volunteer groups tackling invasive species.

The Preventing Aliens Taking Hold (PATH) project needs your help to protect our natural heritage from invasive species. We need you to help manage 30km of the Afon Dyfrdwy (River Dee) for Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed, and American skunk cabbage between Bala and Llangollen.

A photo of an oyster thief along the shore. — Oyster thief (*Colpomenia peregrina*) © NWWT

In the marine environment it’s fairly easy for invasive species to hitch a ride in, find themselves quite at home and spread; becoming problematic. Getting to know them and seeing where they’re living is part of the work our Shoresearch volunteers are carrying out. Sometimes found on general surveys, but otherwise looked for specifically, we have surveys to suit. To date we’ve logged pacfic oyster, orange tipped sea squirt, slipper limpet, wireweed, Chilean oyster and oyster thief and looked for many more in the process. As well as recording them and recording the surveys, we’re making sure we carry out Check Clean Dry after being on shore for a survey.

What can I do?

There are lots of things we can all do to help tackle the threats posed by invasive species:

Become a citizen scientist by identifying and reporting sightings of invasive species
Help Stop the Spread by adopting simple biosecurity principles
Volunteer and help control invasive species in your local community

How to get involved in Invasive Species Week

Join us in events across North Wales! For more information please check out our events calendar.
Share information and experiences in tackling invasive species on social media. Please follow North Wales Wildlife Trust on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to learn about invasive species. You can also check out @InvasiveSp on Twitter and remember to use #INNSweek when posting!

But most of all have fun learning about invasive species, biosecurity and how you can help protect our environment.