The good folks at the River Forth Fishery Trust have been busy throughout the catchment; which for the Devon means making some good progress towards improving the performance of the Dollar Weir fish pass.

The INNS team (that’s Invasive Non-Native Species team tackling the likes of Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed, Skunk Cabbage, Mink etc) have been busy and their work is neatly summarised in their Spring Newsletter here:

Click to access spring-2014-update.pdf

They are looking for volunteers to assists with Japanese Knotweed spraying at a number of locations throughout the Forth catchment:

• 1st September – Japanese Knotweed – Teith Catchment (National Park, Strathyre Area)
• 2nd September – Japanese Knotweed – Teith Catchment (National Park, Loch Lubnaig area)
• 13th September – Japanese Knotweed – Teith Catchment (National Park, Loch Achray area)
• 15th September – Japanese Knotweed – Almond Catchment (West Lothian)
• 18th September – Japanese Knotweed – Leven Catchment (Fife )
• 20th September – Japanese Knotweed – Almond catchment
• 21st september – japanese knotweed – almond catchment
• 25th September – Japanese Knotweed – Teith Catchment (National Park Callander area)
• 26th September – Japanese Knotweed – Forth Catchment (National Park, Aberfoyle area)

All PPE and kit is provided by the Trust bar Wellies, no previous experience needed. Details can be found here:

http://www.fishforth.co.uk/rfft/?p=1335

Lastly there is a very good and interesting interview with the Trust’s biologist Dr Jo Girvan with SEPA (featuring as a backdrop our own River Devon) here:

http://www.sepa.org.uk/making_the_case/water/water_economy/freshwater_ecologist.aspx