Invasive foreign plants are being targeted by a community group.

The Friends of the Neb aim to eradicate Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed from the catchment area of the river that flows into Peel in the next five to 10 years.

The group has set up a Facebook page, which is intended to become a forum where members of our community can become better informed, contribute to this scheme by reporting sightings.

Japanese knotweed can undermine property.

Both it and Himalayan balsam are highly invasive and damage watercourse banks, leading to erosion and increased silt, which is detrimental to fish spawning and harbours such as Peel’s.

They also out compete native plants by being more vigorous and shading them out.

The Friends of the Neb intend to be able to identify and map where these plants are growing.

They are appealing for readers’ help by sending a photo with location, either map reference or description and a contact.

The group also wants to recuit volunteers who are prepared to be trained and certified in injecting Knotweed and others who are prepared to lend a hand in pulling Balsam.

Japanese knotweed can be weakened by frequent pulling or depriving the plants of light.

An effective way of destroying the plant is by injecting the stems with weed killer in July to September. But it could still grow again so volunteers will have visit for two years to be sure it’s gone.

This procedure needs training, specialist equipment and certification.

Himalayan balsam can be killed in an environmentally-friendly manner by pulling it up before it flowers in September and allowing the plants to dry out, be trampled or be bagged and destroyed.

This is time consuming work that requires repeated visits for two or three years to ensure that none have been missed and no more plants have germinated.

The only (optional) kit for doing this is gloves as the plants are often in the company of nettles.

Spraying weed killer is an alternative but that kills native plants in the vicinity, is weather dependent and needs comprehensive kit, training and certification.