Invasive non-native species management: giant hogweed

Anstruther Improvements Association (AIA) engaged Forth Rivers Trust to map the areas of invasive, non-native Giant Hogweed along the entire length of the Dreel Burn.

The AIA facilitates an INNS management meeting with Forth Rivers Trust, Fife Coast & Countryside Trust, Footprint East Neuk and Fife Council. The group is developing a 10-year strategy and treatment management plan, exploring options available and the costs for treatment methods.

Local volunteers from Footprint East Neuk and Dreelside Woods trialled options for non-chemical treatment, including a programme to dig up the roots of the plants in Dreel Meadows in 2023.

The AIA and Fife Coast and Countryside Trust liaised with Fife Council and Cireco to secure the funding required to treat problem areas; and in Summer 2023 Forth Rivers Trust carried out the first Giant Hogweed treatment along the full length of the burn.

Giant Hogweed will require annual treatment over a number of years to eradicate this challenging problem.

For more information on what we are doing about another invasive non-native species, himalayan balsam, click here.