The Trust are now in their second year of the Pendle WINNS invasive species control, which is being carried out in partnership with Forest of Bowland AONB as part of their Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership project.
Ribble Rivers Trust is helping the project achieve its aims by involving local volunteers in the control of invasive species and planting of new woodland around this iconic landmark.
This year we have been tackling key strategic sites in the Pendle area. These sites have been carefully researched to ensure that the removal will have the maximum impact. By starting in the upper reaches of rivers and streams and travelling downstream we can increase the effectiveness of our work and prevent the areas we have worked on from being reseeding.
The three sites we are targeting as part of Pendle WINNS are Barley, Ravensclough Wood, and Swanside Beck. These sites were first visited in 2018 and are being revisited this year. As the seeds of Himalayan balsam can remain in viable in the soil for many years, we will need to keep revisiting these sites until no further balsam grows.
The Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership project, led by the Forest of Bowland AONB, was awarded £1.8 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2018. The grant is being used to restore, enhance and conserve the heritage and landscape of Pendle Hill, reconnecting people with their past and their landscape, and creating a sustainable future for the environment.
