Severn Trent’s Biosecurity team are inviting people along to a special event where they can learn more about non-native species in an interactive way.

The water company’s specialist environmental unit is tasked with mitigating the spread of Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) and protecting native ecosystems and water infrastructure across the region. 

To help people understand the work, they will be hosting the informative and free ‘INNS-teractive’ event at Carsington Water as part of Invasive Species Week this week.

Non-native invasive species are plants, animals or other organisms that have been introduced, often through human activity, into places where they do not naturally occur. While many non-native species cause no harm, those classified as “invasive” spread quickly and have negative impacts on the environment.  

They can outcompete native wildlife for food and space, introduce new diseases, and alter habitats, which can disrupt ecosystems and lead to a decline in biodiversity. In some cases, they can also affect how waterways function, damage infrastructure and increase costs for managing the environment and protecting natural resources.  

Suitable for children aged six and above, the event will be going ahead on Saturday, June 27th between 10am and 3pm and will bring learning to life with a range of hands-on activities designed to engage. 

Visitors will have the chance to meet the experts working to protect the region’s waterways and wildlife, while enjoying a packed programme of activities themed around invasive species and how they spread.

Kay Daily, Biosecurity Manager at Severn Trent, said: “INNS-teractive is all about bringing what can be quite a complex topic to life in an engaging way.  

“We know that invasive species can have a big impact on our rivers, wildlife and the environment, so it’s important people understand how they spread and what we can all do to help stop them.”

This year’s event places a strong focus on interaction and creativity, with the team even dressing up as invasive species to help bring the subject to life. 

There will be plenty for families to get involved with, including a digital biosecurity game where participants can try to defeat invasive species, a three-metre model of giant hogweed to explore up close, and a ‘Where in the world?’ challenge to test knowledge of where different species originate.

Children can also get creative by making their own paper zebra mussel, while those looking for something a bit different can take part in a ‘Smelly Science’ activity to learn how conservation dogs use scent to detect invasive species. 

Other activities include carnival-style games such as knotweed knockdown and a Himalayan balsam bean bag throw, as well as an interactive playmat showing how invasive species spread through everyday movement of people, vehicles and animals.

Visitors can also take part in the Invasives Sticker Safari, collecting stickers from each activity by answering questions as they go, before claiming a small prize at the end. 

As part of the day, Wilde Ecology Dogs will also be hosting live detection dog demonstrations, giving visitors the opportunity to meet the dogs helping to locate and prevent the spread of invasive species in the UK.

The event will also promote the ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ message, encouraging anyone who enjoys the outdoors to help protect waterways by preventing the spread of invasive species. 

Kay added: “This year, we’ve really leaned into making the day interactive, with activities for all ages, from games and crafts to getting hands-on with models and even using your sense of smell. 

“We want people to come along, have fun, and leave feeling more confident about how they can play their part in protecting our natural environment.” 

The event will take place near to Carsington Water Visitors Centre and no booking is required – visitors can simply turn up on the day and join in.