Water Friendly Landscapes Wetland Opportunity Areas

Ock Invasive Non-Native Species

Catchment Project Species Project

We are assessing the distribution of invasive non-native species across the River Ock catchment in Oxfordshire.

Dense clump of Himalayam Balsam with pink flowers along a riverbank, with clouds reflected on the water.

Improving the River Ock catchment for freshwater wildlife

Invasive non-native species can have a significant impact on freshwater wildlife. By improving our understanding of their distribution and putting in place effective management measures, this project will help protect freshwater biodiversity, contributing to a healthier, more resilient freshwater landscape.

Mapping and managing invasive non-native plants

Thank you for your interest in supporting the project. Our volunteer surveys have now closed for 2026. You can keep an eye out for other opportunities on our volunteering page.

We use species records to map invasive non-native plant species across the River Ock catchment. Working with our trained volunteers, we surveyed those areas to confirm records, along with other selected watercourses and wetlands.

Findings from surveys will help to verify existing records and identify new populations. This will help to identify priority areas for further survey and management, including creating an eradication plan for Himalayan Balsam and Rhododendron.

All records will be submitted to the local environmental records centre and used to develop a targeted action plan for the catchment.

The plan will guide future control work, including removal by volunteers and specialist contractors, as well as work with landowners to improve habitat management.

By taking a coordinated catchment-wide approach, we can ensure control efforts are effective and sustainable, particularly for species such as Himalayan Balsam, which require long-term management to prevent reinfestation.

Group of people crouching and kneeling on the ground, investigating plants.

The Ock catchment

The River Ock is a tributary of the Thames in Oxfordshire. The landscape includes several small villages and country towns, ancient woodlands, and rivers, streams, ponds, meadows and marshes, whose history can be traced back for 5,000 years.

Freshwater wildlife in the River Ock catchment is under severe pressure from pollution, drainage and climate change.

We’re working hard to change that. Freshwater Habitats Trust hosts the Ock Catchment Partnership: a group of  local organisations and individuals collaborating to restore and protect freshwaters across the catchment.

Woman's hand holding two test tubes of liquid, one dark pink, one light pink, next to a waterbody.

- Clean water testing in the Ock catchment.