More apps for invasives

If you like the idea of recording invasive wildlife with your smartphone, then you'll probably like the new Plant Tracker app.

The idea developed from the success of the Conker Tree Science Leafwatch app. The Environment Agency saw how well it worked and realised that something similar would be ideal for tracking invasive plants. For some species, in some rivers, this would be especially important because it could allow Environment Agency staff to go and control the plants, so stopping them spreading and causing a problem.

The app is designed for people to report the presence of three invasive plants:

• Himalayan balsam 
• Japanese knotweed 
• floating pennywort 

Although the app is currently focussed on the Midlands region, we'd welcome records from anywhere to support its roll-out to Environment Agency regions across the country.

As the press release states, This is the latest app that has come from IT Services R&D at the University of Bristol. It was funded by the Environment Agency and University of Bristol, in collaboration with the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.