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Invasive plants killed off in deep Highland gorge

NTS A contractor wearing protective clothing and a hard hat holds a spray bottle as he tackles rhododendron ponticum in the gorge.NTS
Rope access specialists have been tackling invasive species in the Highlands' Corrieshalloch Gorge.

Invasive non-native plants have been cleared from crags of a 60m (197ft) deep gorge in the Highlands.

Corrieshalloch, south of Ullapool, was created by meltwater from glaciers at the end of the last ice age about 11,000 years ago, and has a 45m (148ft) waterfall.

The mile-long canyon takes its name from Gaelic for "ugly hollow".

National Trust for Scotland (NTS) received funding for the work which involved contractors abseiling into the gorge.

NTS A contractor wearing protective clothing and a hard hat abseils down into the gorge. The crag's rocks are dark and wet. Water flows at the bottom of the gorge.NTS
The gorge is 60m (197ft) deep in places.
NTS An aerial image of part of Corrieshalloch Gorge. There is a narrow footbridge over the gorge, which has steep sides with water flowing at the bottom of the crags.NTS
The gorge was formed at the end of the last ice age.

The plants removed or killed off included Japanese knotweed, rhododendron ponticum and American skunk cabbage.

The species, brought to the UK from other parts of the world for planting in gardens, can smother native plants and damage fragile habitats.

NTS said the work at Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve was part of its wider efforts to conserve native species.

NTS A contractor wearing protective clothing and a hard hat abseils down into the gorge. The crag's rocks are dark and wet.NTS
The gorge is in a national nature reserve.
NTS A contractor wearing protective clothing and a hard hat abseils down into the gorge. The rocky crags are covered in vegetation.NTS
Plants tackled in the gorge included rhododendron ponticum and American skunk cabbage.
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