South West Water joins communities across the South West to mark Invasive Species Week

INNS are species that are introduced, intentionally or accidentally, outside their natural distribution, which threaten native species, our ecosystems and our economy.

Figures show the impacts of INNS are estimated to cost the UK more than £4bn a year and are recognised as a problem for water companies.

Working closely with partners including South West Lakes Trust and local community groups, South West Water took the opportunity to shine a light on the steps everyone can take to help prevent the spread of harmful INNS species and safeguard the region’s biodiversity.

A major highlight of the week was the annual South West Invasive Species Forum (SWISF) at Roadford Lake Conference Centre in Devon, which welcomed nearly 100 attendees.

Organised by Laura Dee from South West Lakes Trust and co-hosted by Kate Hills from South West Water and Nicola Morris from the Trust, the forum included a dedicated workshop on American mink eradication and the strategic reintroduction of water voles in the South West.

Water voles are ecosystem engineers as they help to manage waterways by foraging and burrowing to increase biodiversity.

Forum attendees also heard talks on managing INNS in island ecosystems as well as threats posed by marine species and were asked to be aware of the growing risk from the yellow-legged Asian hornet.

Staff from South West Water also went out into the community during the week to spread the word about INNS and encourage people to protect natural habitats.

In Cornwall, South West Water’s Invasive Fish and Aquatic Biosecurity Officer, Ashley Bunning, joined members of Siblyback Fly Fishers Association for a fly-tying evening with a twist.

The group used American signal crayfish as inspiration for their flies, which sparked valuable conversations about the impacts of INNS on native species and freshwater ecosystems.

And in the east, Marcus Brown from South West Water and Gemma Morgan from Bournemouth Water hosted an INNS awareness stall at Blashford Lakes, where Gemma, dressed as a crayfish, helped spark public interest in biosecurity measures, particularly those targeting invasive crayfish species.

Just days after the success of SWISF, more than 40 visitors took part in an INNS awareness trail at Roadford Lake, hosted by South West Lakes Trust, bringing the community closer to the challenge of tackling invasive species.

Kate Hills, Biosecurity and Invasive Non-Native Species Manager at South West Water said: “Invasive Species Week is a powerful reminder of the difference we can make when we work together.

“Across the South West, we’ve seen brilliant examples of collaboration from scientific workshops to fun, hands-on events that help people understand why tackling invasive species matters and the reception we’ve had when we’re out and about has been absolutely fantastic.

“Every action, big or small, contributes to protecting our ecosystems and the biodiversity that makes this region so special.”

Nicola Morris, Head of Environment at South West Lakes Trust said: "Not only is Invasive Species Week a great way to highlight the impacts invasive species cause and how we can all prevent their spread, but it is also a fantastic way to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our amazing volunteers.

“Our volunteer Site Guardians work closely with our team to monitor the lakes, reporting any unexpected species and they help us to manage our sites too. We are hugely grateful to them for all they do."