Dr Neil Smith
Conservation Officer
Sites Team - North Region
Countryside Council for Wales
• CCW’s remit in terms of the River Dee
catchment
• ‘Features’ of interest
• Why do anything about invasive plant
species ?
• How CCW can assist with works to
manage the problem of invasive plant
species
CCW’s remit in terms of the
River Dee catchment
• The main river Dee and four tributaries are covered by both a
national and international nature conservation designation.
• Afon Dyfrdwy (River Dee) SSSI
• River Dee and Bala Lake / Afon Dyfrdwy a Llyn Tegid SAC.
• Wider role in terms of biodiversity, access to the countryside,
AONB
‘Features’ of interest - SAC
• Special Area of Conservation (SAC): European
designation.
• Atlantic salmon
• Rivers with floating vegetation often dominated by
water-crowfoot
• Floating water-plantain
• Otter
• 3 species of lamprey – sea lamprey, river lamprey and
brook lamprey
• Bullhead
‘Features’ of interest - SSSI
• All of the above SAC features.
• The SSSI ‘feature’ for the vegetation includes marginal
vegetation along the banks.
• Additional national (SSSI) features of importance
include:
• Saltmarsh, marginal vegetation, Slender Hare's-ear,
Sea barley, club-tailed dragonfly, Isogenus nubecula
(stonefly) and Baris lepidii (weevil) 3
geomorphological areas – reflecting the fluvial history
of the river and exposure of sediments.
Why do anything about invasive
plant species ?
• Bank-side vegetation is part of the ‘natural’ vegetation
that we are trying to maintain.
• Invasive non-native species can be vigorous
competitors to the native flora.
• They replace native flora and may affect native food
web.
• Their die back may lead to bank instability during
flood or high water conditions – economic
consequences for land owners and statutory
authorities.
• May block or impede access to the river and adjacent
areas.
• etc…..
How CCW can assist
• Provide grant aid to suitable projects that seek to
maintain or enhance the features of the site. e.g.
Welsh Dee Trust / Afonydd Cymru.
• Provide consent for positive conservation works.
• Where positive conservation works are committed to,
a small amount of money is available to encourage
owners or occupiers to continue those works, through
a section 15 management Agreement.
• Hope that you find today instructive and encouraging.
• you are not on your own, there are lots of other
people out there, trying to do a similar thing to you.
• You may be able to get help from other organisations.
• You may be able to help others get started to do the
same thing.
Dr Neil Smith
Swyddog Cadwraeth / Conservation Officer,
Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru / Countryside Council for Wales
Rhanbarth Gogledd Cymru / North Wales Region
Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru / Countryside Council for Wales
Glan y Nant, Uned 19 / Glan y Nant, Unit 19.
Parc Busnes Yr Wyddgrug / Mold Business Park.
Ffordd Wrecsam / Wrexham Road.
Yr Wyddgrug / Mold.
Sir Y Fflint / Flintshire CH7 1XP
Ffôn/Phone: 01352 706600 / Ffacs/Fax: 01352 752346
E-bost/E-mail: n.smith@ccw.gov.uk ( mailto:n.smith@ccw.gov.uk )
Ar y Wê/Web site: http://www.ccw.gov.uk