Woolly thinking used to battle hogweed

IT is one of the most dangerous invasive plants.

Now experts have deployed a new weapon in the fight against poisonous giant hogweed – a herd of sheep.

The toxic plant’s sap causes burns that can require hospital treatment, but now a ‘woolly weapon’ is being used in the fight against hogweed on the banks of the River Deveron in the North-East.

A flock of a dozen sheep will be deployed near Huntly, Aberdeenshire, next week to start munching through the invasive plants growing there.

Reaching heights of up to 10ft, the harmful sap makes mature and dense stands of giant hogweed difficult to remove.

Normally chemical spraying is the most effective treatment method but following an ‘encouraging trial’ in 2013 by the Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Trust, grazing by sheep is being further investigated as a viable alternative. The sheep suffer no ill-effects from the toxic sap and develop a taste for the plant.

Richie Miller, director of the trust, said: ‘The previous trial showed a significant reduction in seedlings, with no evidence of plants reaching maturity during the threeyear grazing period. This was a really inspiring and important outcome and this new trial will allow us to build on the previous findings and undertake more essential research to demonstrate the effectiveness of grazing in hogweed control.’

The trial, which is supported by the University of Aberdeen, is part of the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (SISI), a project led by Scottish Natural Heritage to tackle invasive non-native species.

Project manager Callum Sinclair said: ‘If the sheep prove to be successful at eradicating giant hogweed this could be a huge step forward for the management of the species across Scotland. SISI is also about providing support and building the skills of individuals and communities in the fight against these invasive species.

‘To do that we will be providing a range of volunteering opportunities across the project area – we are really pleased to have recruited these dozen sheep volunteers to the scheme and look forward to working with them in the future.’

Al Reeve, SISI project officer on the River Deveron, said: ‘I never quite expected to be enlisting sheep to the project when I joined up but I’m looking forward to seeing them deal with this hogweed challenge.

‘We’re optimistic they can do a great job for us and the farmer and landowner.’