July and August has seen RMCV volunteers demonstrating what lives in the river at a number of village shows in the Meon Valley as well as a lot of early mornings tackling invasive plants. The hot summer has meant that some plants have been setting seed earlier this year so the team has been busy pulling the plants before the seeds burst out and spread.

In addition to removing Himalayan Balsam along the river, we helped HIWWT to find and remove orange balsam from St Clairs reserve. At least it was slightly cooler with our feet in the river”.