
Struan progressing along the left bank towards the harbour ensuring every single plant has been treated
Those who have fished the River Ayr over the last 15 – 20 years, can’t help but notice the decline in Giant Hogweed on the river since 2008 when Ayrshire Rivers Trust first started controlling this plant. Giant Hogweed is a non native and invasive species that out competes native species to the detriment of the environment. It dies back in winter leaving large areas of bare soil that is prone to erosion in winter spates. This in turn leads to fine sediment depositing on spawning beds and also enrichment as nitrates and phosphates are bound to soil particles.

An idyllic view looking upstream at Overmills. The bank on the right requires control from top to bottom and its an arduous task clambering up those banks laden with a full back pack of herbicide.

The mass f young plants in this image indicates a plant flowered here in the last year or two. That’s a huge setback to the strategy we follow but not unexpected when over 50 miles of riverbank has to be inspected and controlled each year on this catchment alone.

Facing uphill from the foot of the bank and its clear to see how difficult a task it is to treat every single flowering plant. This undergrowth is almost head hight and covered in brambles and nettles and all sorts of stinging and biting beasties. Not a job for the faint hearted.

One of the really satisfying aspect of controlling these plants is the opportunity to walk every inch of the water. There are always stunning views and unusual sights to see. I saw both an Osprey and a Peregrine within half a mile of this spot in the last few days.