Drone spray trials with the Lindis Catchment Group
The Lindis Catchment group are on a mission to curb the spread of willows in their catchment. They have implemented work using spray, mechanical removal and management of regrowth through various means. Their latest trials have been with a drone.
Read on for more.
The group have been working on willow control throughout the catchment since 2021. Initiated following a successful funding bid to Jobs for Nature, their work on this long term project is continuing on beyond the initial government funding. More recently, the group have been paying for a spray control programme themselves.
As well as getting on with their own programme of work, they’ve watched with interest how other groups have been tackling this issue and with a growing interest in where drone technology can play a part, they recently brought in a company to trial some work on a particular site.
For the Lindis, they have a number of areas with either poor access, or high risk areas close to stream banks. Following a conversation with OCC, the group made contact with a drone operator to give this option a whirl (no pun intended!).
A drone working on willow regrowth in the Lindis Catchment.
While too early to see the efficacy of the drone work yet, the demonstrated efficiency and careful targeting of spray was noted as impressive with very real potential as a tool to continue to use for catchment work. The financial and environmental considerations through reduced use of spray through highly accurate application are a plus, if you or your group are thinking about implementing this technology. Health and Safety is also a consideration with virtually zero contact of spray to people, if your other option is knapsack spraying.
The Lindis group have the ability to work on certain areas for maintenance themselves by ground work and some by helicopter, but initial impressions are that the drone will have a place in ongoing maintenance to help keep willows at bay in the catchment.
There is a long way to go for this group to feel like they've accomplished their targets for stream health and catchment resilience, but it's encouraging to see technology being trialled by the Lindis group.
If this looks like something you'd be keen to learn more about, get in touch with OCC.