2022
Invasive Species Week is an annual national event to raise awareness of the impacts of invasive species, and celebrate action to prevent their spread. Organisations across the UK, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man join together to lead activities and share information on the simple things that everyone can do to help prevent the spread of invasive species.
Date
The next Invasive Species Week will take place from the 16th – 22nd May 2022.
Themes
Each day we’ll focus on a different theme:
- Monday – introduction to the week and invasive species impacts on the terrestrial environment (countryside)
- Tuesday – impacts on the freshwater environment
- Wednesday – impacts on the marine environment
- Thursday – impacts on people and the urban environment
- Friday – biosecurity – what does this mean, and what can people and organisations do to improve their biosecurity?
- Saturday and Sunday – events and activities to take part in
How can I take part in Invasive Species Week?
Everyone is invited to take part, whether that’s hosting an event, or looking out for invasive plants while you’re out on a walk.
If you or your organization would like to take part, we have a few quick suggestions below for how to do so but we’d love to hear your ideas too:
- Support on social media. You can find us on twitter at @BioDataCentre where we’ll be posting throughout the week using the #INNSweek and #ReportInvasives so please retweet or create your own posts using the hashtags to join the thread. @InvasiveSp is the official feed for the GB Invasive Species Week.
- Create displays at outdoor sites. If you manage or work at a site that’s popular with walkers, you could create a display.
- Hold an online webinar or training session. A series of webinars are happening throughout the week (take a look at the details above) but we would love to publicize yours too.
- Write a blog. Let people know how invasive species affect your local area, and how they can help to prevent this.
- Share information and awareness raising materials with your networks. If you have something you think others would find useful, let us know too we will help share it.
- Let us know at the National Biodiversity Data Centre if you have an event planned and we will help share it, contact [email protected] with Invasive Species Week in the subject line.
What’s happening throughout the week?
Monday
Joint official launch of invasive species websites for Ireland and Northern Ireland!
Tuesday
- Webinar: Invasive marine species, with Cefas. Registration not required.
Wednesday
- Webinar: 10am. Tackling the spread of marine INNS in four steps, hosted by APEM. Find out more and register online (external link).
- Webinar: 1pm. Non-native species – what’s the problem, and what can be done? With Dr Paul Walton, RSPB. Hosted by the GB NNSS. Contact the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat to register.
Thursday
- ‘Walk & Talk’ tour on Invasive Species. Join the National Botanic Gardens for a walk and talk to discover some of the alien species that have colonised Ireland. Fore more details and book your place here.
Friday
- Webinar: Available here from 10am. Biosecurity in the UK Overseas Territories, hosted by the GB NNSS. Registration not required.
If you have something planned for Invasive Species Week please let us know: [email protected]
A list of Invasive Species Week events led by the GB Non-native Species Secretariat can be found here.
How can I protect the environment?
There are four simple things that you can do to help prevent the spread of invasive non-native species:
- Keep any boats, clothing, footwear and equipment used in water free of invasive non-native species – remember to Check Clean Dry after use.
- Be Plant Wise and don’t let your pond or aquarium plants enter the wild.
- Take care of your pets, Be Pet Wise never release them or allow them to escape into the wild. It’s cruel and could harm other wildlife.
- Look out for invasive species and record your sightings. Read more on recent alerts for Asian hornet and Chinese mitten crab.