The Tees Rivers Trust hopes to tackle invasive plant species and replace them with native flora.
A conservation group says it has made progress tackling giant hogweed infestations in County Tyrone.
David and Ros Butler have been cleared the "vile" plant from the banks of the Tees for 13 years.
The invasive plant can leave blistering and scarring if it comes into contact with the skin.
A nine-year-old has been left with blisters after coming into contact with the plant in Ryhope.
A man has been left with bad scars after touching what is dubbed Britain's most dangerous plant.
Researchers have been running a four-year trial in a giant hogweed-dominated Aberdeenshire wood.
The plant contains a sap which irritates skin and can cause blistering and swelling.
The Covid-19 lockdown is making tackling the problem of the dangerous invasive plant harder.
