Dr Neil Smith

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• Dr Neil Smith
• Conservation Officer
• Sites Team - North Region
• Countryside Council for Wales

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• CCWs 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

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CCWs 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

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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

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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.

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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..

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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.

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• 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.

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• 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 [phone] / Ffacs/Fax 01352
  752346
• E-bost/E-mail n.smith_at_ccw.gov.uk (
  mailton.smith_at_ccw.gov.uk )
• Ar y Wê/Web site http//www.ccw.gov.uk