Biosecurity

Biosecurity is the term used to describe the measures taken to protect the environment from the spread of Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) and animal and plant diseases.

What’s the problem?

The introduction and spread of Invasive Non-Native Species and animal and plant diseases pose a significant threat to Nidderdale National Landscape. They can spread disease or increase competition for resources as well as damaging wildlife habitats. They can also impact on our enjoyment of the area by restricting access or changing the character of landscape features. Species such as Giant Hogweed can even present a hazard to human health.

Eradication is often impossible once established and the costs of control are large so stopping the spread by implementing simple biosecurity measures is often the most cost effective way of combatting the problem.

What can you do?

Don’t give pests and diseases an easy ride!  One of the main ways that animal and plant diseases are spread is by people and our movements and activities, ‘hitch-hiking’ between areas on boots, clothes, equipment, vehicles and boats.

Follow the Check-Clean-Dry protocol below at the end of all outdoor activities (before leaving site if possible or when you get home if not).  Good biosecurity aims to prevent this movement of INNS by making sure equipment and clothing are free of pests and diseases before moving from one site to another.

Create your own biosecurity kit

Putting together a simple, portable biosecurity kit can help you implement simple measures every day to help limit the introduction and spread of pests and diseases. These are cheap and easily obtained items to include in your kit:  bucket (big enough to fit your boot and a few inches of water), boot pick, brush, disinfectant, hand sanitiser, water container (or a large re-used water bottle) and portable pressure washer (optional, but handy for cleaning bikes or other equipment that won’t fit in a bucket).

Which pests and diseases are we talking about…

Himalayan balsam    
Extensive within the Nidderdale National Landscape.

Japanese knotweed
Present but not extensive within Nidderdale National Landscape.

Zebra mussels
Present at some sites within Nidderdale National Landscape.

New Zealand Pigmy Weed / Australia Swamp Stonecrop
Present at some sites within Nidderdale National Landscape.

Batchelor’s buttons
Present at some sites within Nidderdale National Landscape.

Giant hogweed
Common around the fringes of Nidderdale National Landscape.

Signal Crayfish & Crayfish Plague
The gradual spread of Signal Crayfish within our river systems threatens the future of our native white-clawed crayfish within Nidderdale National Landscape and across the UK.

Floating pennywort
Currently found on some river systems linked to the Yorkshire Dales but has not yet made it into Nidderdale National Landscape!

Tree diseases
Non-native diseases threaten the health of our woodlands with ash and larch currently under particular threat.