‘Wooly warriors’ could be used to solve giant hogweed problem

Highly invasive plant meets its match on Scottish riversides

Sheep have been on the frontline in the fight against giant hogweed in Scotland (NatureScot)

Their mission has been to eat a lot of weeds and sheep responded to their call of duty with enthusiasm.

Since 2019 the so-called ‘wooly warriors’ have been on the front line of Scotland’s fight against highly invasive hoghweed, which has been infesting rivers and quickly spreading.

Wildlife organisation NatureScot received lottery funding to deploy the sheep to sections of the River Deveron, in the north east of the country, as part of the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative.