We were delighted to welcome Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, on her visit to the River Don in May. Ms Dunbar visited the River Dee Trust and spoke with them about sea trout and giant hogweed in the local area.

The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative has been tackling giant hogweed on the River Urie (a tributary of the Don) since 2023. Jan Simpson, local Project Officer with the River Dee Trust, spoke with Ms Dunbar about the problems caused by giant hogweed, it’s impacts on the local area, and our work to control it. Giant hogweed poses a risk to human health as it contains a phytotoxic sap which can cause serious skin burns. The significant infestation on the Urie presents a danger to local communities living alongside the river and, as an invasive non-native species, impacts the environment and native biodiversity.

The group visited the River Urie to see untreated sites with significant giant hogweed infestations and improved sites which are now under management	The visit included staff from Fisheries Management Scotland, the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative and the River Dee Trust. Left to right: Chloe Grant (FMS), Jan Simpson (SISI), Lorraine Hawkins (RDT), MSP Jackie Dunbar, Jamie Urquhart (RDT)

Ms Dunbar also spoke with the River Dee Trust about the threats to sea trout and how we can better protect populations. Jackie Dunbar has been a Nature Champion for sea trout since 2022 and is committed to protecting the interests of this threatened species. Sea trout populations have declined in many Scottish rivers and are under threat from: loss of spawning habitats; physical barriers to migration; exploitation; pollution; sea-lice; temperature change and decline in sandeel populations at sea. The River Dee trust highlighted their concerns for this species in the region, their holistic catchment management activities to improve the freshwater environment and what might be done in addition to better protect the sea trout.