Some Gardeners Have Lot To Answer For

[admin]

OK  I’ve fixed the forum so that entitles me to at least one moaning  post!   

My other great interest outside of plants is fly fishing;  a  40 year old passion  that  takes me to lots of different wild places. The number of non-native plant species that infest some of our  river banks really  is beyond belief. Impenetrable  and often dangerous stands of  giant hogweed, Himalayan  balsam, Japanese knotweed make  the trek along some parts of our rivers hazardous and often impossible. Skunk cabbages, mimulus of various  species, lupins  and other exotics are attractive but really should not be there.

The detrimental environmental effects of these invaders  on native flora and fauna are hard to quantify, but this mess, out of sight and out of mind as it is, should be publicised to serve as a warning to us all that we have to be careful how we dispose  of  unwanted exotic plant material.

And don’t get me started on non-native fish………………..   

[Paddy Tobin]

Good to see the forum back running again - Many thanks.

Couldn't agree more re plants. Impatiens balsamica, fallopia japonica and the giant hogweed are our local pests.

Paddy

[mark smyth]

I'm interested in hearing what the non native fish are

[Slug Killer]

There are several non native trout in our rivers and lakes now (Rainbow trout, Brook trout, Steel head, Blue trout etc) and there are Pike Perch more commonly known as Zander, Catfish and various others that I can't remember.

Rainbow trout can be found in many rivers in the South which are stocked. Leave the brown trout alone!

Dave

[Paul T]

And over here we have lots and lots of carp infesting our local waterways.

[Anthony Darby]

No to mention all the live fish that are brought up to be used as bait and now infest our lochs!

[admin]

No to mention all the live fish that are brought up to be used as bait and now infest our lochs!

Yes, roach, dace, ruff, gudgeon etc etc. All non-natives in Scotland. The vile practice of live baiting has been illegal here for a good few years now, but I have little doubt it still goes on. Roach were recently discovered in the Loch Of Lorriston in Aberdeen. They just “mysteriously”  appeared. Pike are still being moved around by selfish idiots too I'm afraid and in uniformly shallow lochs they reek havoc on populations of native salmonids

[t00lie]

Fred

If you are ever out down this way, look me up and we can go fly fishing together.

Of course the Brown and Rainbow are introduced ,however they grow like Trilliums here ...rather large.

Cheers dave.

[admin]

The River Don near my home in Aberdeenshire. Giant hogweed is a beautiful and statuesque plant and one can understand its attractions to  large gardens, but my goodness it’s a real problem once it gets into the riparian environment.  Japanese knotweed is not as dangerous but in many ways it’s worse as it smothers everything else out and as a result allows serious  bank erosion when it dies down in winter due to the loss of stabilizing native plants.

Best to grow alpines I think.

[admin]

Fred

If you are ever out down this way, look me up and we can go fly fishing together.

Of course the Brown and Rainbow are introduced ,however they grow like Trilliums here ...rather large.

Cheers dave.

Dave,

Oddly enough I’m heading for the South Island with Alex,  a pal of mine, for 4 weeks next February. Alex has been there 5 times already, this will be my first trip. Yes, the trout there are huge and  no one’s mugs I’m told.

[t00lie]

That's terrific Fred.

I'll PM you to see if we can meet up.

Cheers Dave.

[Maggi Young]

Oddly enough I’m heading for the South Island with Alex,  a pal of mine, for 4 weeks next February. 

WHAT!!??!!  FRED...... ABROAD FOR 4 WEEKS But how will I cope???

[Maggi Young]

This topic relates to another...see here:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2081.0

[Anthony Darby]

Oddly enough I’m heading for the South Island with Alex,  a pal of mine, for 4 weeks next February. 

WHAT!!??!!  FRED...... ABROAD FOR 4 WEEKS But how will I cope???

..."have a cup of tea".

[Paul T]

And chocolate, LOTS of chocolate.  The better the quality the better you'll cope Maggi!