This year we observed a reduction in abundance and collectively spent 2 hours less on control work - a sure sign of progress! 👏 There are also small patches of knotweed on the burn which Robert will treat in the coming weeks. #RiverYthan #SandsofForvie #ForvieNNR

The sand dune system is also a Special Area of Conservation so it is especially important to prevent further spread of balsam in this area. Himalayan balsam on the burn has been controlled since 2019.

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Thank you to Daryl, Richard, Vikki & Jim from the Forvie NNR team for their help controlling Himalayan balsam on the Foveran Burn earlier this month! 🌸 The burn leads down into the Ythan Estuary which, with the surrounding Sands of Forvie, is a National Nature Reserve.

Thank you to Fiona, Rachel, Richard, Elaine and Rob for all your help and for a lovely day out on the river!

This was also a good location for group work as there are paths along the river for easier access. Work only started on this site in 2024, and seeds can be viable for 2-3 years, but hopefully with a few more control seasons we will begin to see a reduction in abundance. 🌱🌱

We're now a few weeks past balsam season but we wanted to say thank you to everyone who joined us in Ellon for a volunteer day earlier this month! 🌸 Our team have been tackling upstream sources on the Ythan but help was needed to control the extensive infestation in Ellon town.

Floating rafts are an essential piece of kit for our control project but they aren't something you can just buy off the shelf. Men's Sheds across NE Scotland have been constructing this kit of us for many years now, making critical contributions to native wildlife conservation.

Thank you to Buckie Men's Shed who finished off their first set of 10 mink rafts last week! 🛠☺️.The rafts have been collected and are already deployed on the River Spey & tributaries, ready to catch some mink. They've gone out to replace older kit and to set up new volunteers.

You can contact local PO Cat - cat@eskriversangus.uk - or sign up on our website: American mink are an invasive non-native species with severe detrimental impacts on native wildlife, particularly endangered water voles and ground nesting birds.

Well done to our mink volunteers on the Esks - we've had 3 captures in the catchments this week!.This brings our total up to 9 for the year in the Esk catchments. We're in the process of growing our network and expanding cover so do get in touch if you'd like to get involved!

We are asking anyone who lives or spends time in the area to please keep an eye out for this invasive non-native plant and urgently report any sightings on our website: There is a map to pin the exact location and photos can be attached to help confirm ID.

⚠ Help needed to find Japanese knotweed on the River Nethy! ⚠.Last week our local PO found a stand of Japanese knotweed on the River Nethy near the confluence with the Spey. We suspect there is an upstream source but so far have been unable to locate further infestations. 🌱

That brings our total to 17 for the Cromarty, Ness & Beauly catchments and East Sutherland. We now have 100 rafts and traps out across this area so their hard work is being put to good use. Thanks so much to everyone involved - and to all the Sheds helping across NE Scotland! 3/3.

As well as suppling rafts and tunnels for the SISI project, they also constructed kit for previous mink control projects in the area. Thanks to their help, and dedicated project volunteers, we have already captured 10 mink in the Cromarty area this year. 2/3

Milton Men's Shed have been showing off their fantastic rope and pulley system to get the latest batch of mink rafts down from their workshop! 🛠.Members are passionate about conserving wildlife and the Shed has been making top quality mink rafts for many years now. 1/3

Meanwhile, long term volunteer Sue got a brand new raft and tunnel, all thanks to Milton Men's Shed! 🛠 Sue has water voles living on her farm and by maintaining an active mink trap she is helping to protect the local voles from the invasive non-native American mink. 3/3

We also deployed a new trap on the River Meig (also following a mink sighting) which will be monitored by a local landowner. We now have around 40 mink rafts and traps in the Cromarty Firth area, all monitored by a network of 23 dedicated volunteers! 2/3

We had a few new volunteer signs ups and mink raft replacements in the Conon and Cromarty Firth catchments last month. First, welcome to Sue and Allistair, who got in touch with us after spotting a mink on a pond and noticing ducklings disappearing. 1/3

Sign up on our website if you'd like to get involved:

It won't be long before Himalayan balsam starts seeding but we do have a few volunteer days planned this week! 🌸 Join us in:.🌿 Kirriemuir – Wed 6 Aug.🌿 Ellon – Wed 6 Aug.🌿 Dunglass Island – Thurs 7 Aug.🌿 Foveran – Thurs 7 Aug.🌿 Keith – Fri 8 Aug.🌿 Kirriemuir – Fri 8 Aug