Herald - Issue 409

v EMAIL: editor@herald-publishing.co.uk v 15th July 2021 • The HERALD • Page 59 023 8084 0092 / 07557 792785 Telephone Richard 023 8084 9637 | Grass Cutting | Edges Trimmed | Hedge Trimming | PRESSURE WASHING OF DECKS, PATIOS & DRIVES | FENCE & SHEDS PAINTED QuickSmart Garden Services Professional & Reliable | DOWN THE GARDEN PATH | All aspects of Gardening carried out by reliable gardener a Grass Cutting a Hedge Cutting a Border Maintenance, Pruning, Weeding a Treating of Fencing/Trellis/Outbuildings a Pressure Washing of Patios/Decking The Potty Gardener Contact Kev on 07585 115569 or 023 8084 8638 Catherine Chatters, Project Officer for the New Forest Non-Native Plants Project, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her services to biosecurity. Catherine Chatters runs the New Forest Non- Native Plants Project which aims to control the spread of invasive non-native plants, particularly along rivers and in wetland habitats. e award was given for Catherine’s services to biosecurity – in this case, the control of invasive species to protect native wildlife. e project, which was set up in 2009, raises awareness about invasive non-native plants and the problems they cause and o ers people advice and practical help to control them. e project has tackled many invasive non-native plants including Himalayan balsam, American skunk cabbage, giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed and parrot’s feather which have ‘jumped the garden fence’ and invaded the countryside. On receiving the award Catherine Chatters said: “I feel very honoured to have been awarded the BEM for my work with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s New Forest Non-Native Plants Project. However, the success of this project is a result of the hard work, enthusiasm and co-operation of many other people including our wonderful volunteers, landowners, professional contractors , my colleagues at the Trust and staff from a wide range of organisations. I would therefore like the award to be regarded as recognition of everyone’s help and support for the Project.” One of the project’s regular volunteers, Patsy Baverstock, commented: “I became involved in the project in 2016. Working with Catherine has been sheer pleasure. She is so appreciative of everything the volunteers do, always taking time to send emails thanking them. It is so rewarding now to return to sites that were covered in balsam and to see that native plants have returned - bluebells, stitchwort, foxgloves to name a few. To be working in the outdoors, doing something beneficial for our meadows, with such a wonderful leader, what more could we ask for? I look forward to helping Catherine with the project as long as it continues, and I am delighted that all her efforts have been rewarded with this well- deserved honour.” Volunteer Graham Chillcott added: “Having moved into the National Park when we retired, we wanted to help preserve the amazing and precious environment we found ourselves in. So, we went along to a New Forest volunteer event a little over three years ago, where we met Catherine. We enjoyed it so much, we’ve been helping her Himalayan balsam pulling ever since.” Sara Cadbury owns a section of the Lymington River where the project has worked to control invasive plants. She said: “The meadows along the banks of the Lymington River at Bridge Farm were becoming seriously invaded by Himalayan balsam. If it had not been for the amazing efforts of Catherine Chatters, her colleague Jo Gore, and their team of Trust volunteers (especially BrianMatthews who never missed a day of pulling balsam), the problem on this farm would have become completely out of hand! I am hugely grateful to them all for their extremely hard work, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust staff recognised in the Queen’s Honours List Catherine Chatters, Non-native Plants Project © H&IWWT often in hot, difficult conditions.” e New Forest Non- Native Plants Project is a partnership project hosted by the Trust and funded by the Environment Agency, e New Forest Higher Level Stewardship Scheme, Forestry England, the New Forest National Park Authority, the Test & Itchen Catchment Partnership, the New Forest Trust, Natural England and Lymington & Pennington Town Council. You can nd out more about the New Forest Non-Native Plants Project by visiting their website: www.hiwwt. org.uk/new-forest-non- native-plants Gardens To Visit Garden lovers of all ages will nd the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) ‘Garden Visitor’s Handbook 2021 (popularly known as e Yellow Book) invaluable when planning days out to take a peek behind other people’s garden gates. All over the country, thousands of private gardens are opened to the public on speci ed dates as part of the NGS scheme to raise funds for various nursing, caring and gardening charities it helps support. e so-called ‘bible’ of garden visiting and the key to secret gardens of England and Wales gives details of all the gardens taking part, together with location, a brief description of the garden, and dates when you can visit. e publication can be purchased for £13.99 online at: www.ngs.org.uk