In our Derwent Living Forest, we are creating opportunities for people to volunteer, learning a little more about wildlife, experiencing the benefits of time in nature, and getting stuck into activities that have direct positive impact. 

This act of taking part in nature’s recovery has been linked to clear wellbeing and health benefits, so we are committed to providing more and different volunteering opportunities that will help all people to get involved. 

One of our most popular volunteering activities is invasive species management.  

 What Are Invasive Species? 

Invasive species are plants, animals, or microorganisms that aren't native to a particular area and tend to spread rapidly, often outcompeting local flora and fauna. Some might seem harmless, but they can cause quite a stir in the natural balance. They can disrupt ecosystems, harm biodiversity, and even impact human activities. 

The Impact on Local Ecosystems 

From plant life, to the animals that depend on those plants for food and shelter, the negative impact that invasive species have on biodiversity is wide ranging and disrupt the natural balance. Their adaptability gives them an advantage to outcompete our native species for resources, some can also alter soil composition and water quality and others transmit diseases which our native species are vulnerable to. 

Derbyshire's Uninvited Guests 

Derbyshire, with its rolling hills and lush valleys, is home to several invasive species that disrupt the delicate balance of our local ecosystems. Here are a few notable ones: 

1. Japanese Knotweed: This plant is notorious for its rapid growth and ability to damage buildings and infrastructure. It's a tough cookie to get rid of and requires persistent effort to control.
2. Himalayan Balsam: With its pretty pink flowers, Himalayan Balsam might look innocent, but it spreads quickly along riverbanks, rapidly outcompeting native plants and altering habitats. Its shallow root system leaves river banks vulnerable to erosion.
3. Signal Crayfish: Originally from North America, these crayfish have made their way into Derbyshire's waterways. They carry a water-borne fungal disease which is lethal to the native white clawed crayfish, as well as reproducing more rapidly and displacing white claws. Their burrowing habits, leave river bank vulnerable to collapse, disrupting spawning grounds for fish species.
4. Grey Squirrel: Grey squirrels are very adaptable and have outcompeted the native red squirrels, for food and habitat. Grey squirrels carry a virus which they themselves are not affected by, however, this is deadly to the red squirrels.
5. American Mink: This predator has contributed to the dramatic decline of native water voles as well as being a threat to the success of nesting birds – particularly those near water. They are very adaptable and often drive native species like otter out of territories.  

What Can We Do? 

Managing invasive species is a challenging task, but there are steps we can take to help: 

• Awareness and Education: Understanding the problem is the first step. Educate yourself and others about the invasive species in your area and how to identify them.
• Volunteer Efforts: Join local conservation groups that work to control invasive species. These groups often organize events to remove invasive plants and monitor affected areas.
• Responsible Gardening: Avoid planting known invasive species in your garden. Opt for native plants that support local wildlife and ecosystems. 

What are Derbyshire Wildlife Trust doing to scale things up? 

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust continue to trial new strategies and technologies for invasive species management. Kyle Winney, Living Landscape Officer and Nestle Waters decided to take an innovative approach to dealing with invasive Japanese Knotwood at Cowdale, a 36 ha disused limestone quarry site managed by DWT as a diverse habitat of grassland, wood-pasture and wildflower meadows. 

Traditional methods of controlling Japanese Knotweed often involve chemical herbicides, which can have inadvertent detrimental effects on the ecosystem, and would negatively impact the quality of groundwater source. As Cowdale is a water extraction site for Nestle and they have very high standards for their water management, chemical treatment was never an option. Therefore an innovative approach using thermo-electric treatment is being trialled and is so far proving to be successful in removing the invasive plant. 

In partnership with the Japanese Knotweed Agency this chemical-free method uses up to 5,000 volts of electricity to target and destroy the plant's extensive root system. This process effectively boils the plant from the inside out, depleting its energy reserves and making it extremely difficult to regrow. Importantly, this method does not harm surrounding plants, animals, or soil microorganisms, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical treatments.  

After 2 years of a trial treatment period, the Japanese knotweed appears to be surrendering, regrowth is both reduced and significantly slower. However, the plant is deceptively tough, its deep-rooted rhizomes are resilient, and treatment is continuing to ensure its complete eradication. 

What’s next? 

Would you like to get closer to nature? Could our volunteering opportunities help you to take action? Register as a volunteer here and we can keep you regularly updated with opportunities in your area