Be Plant Wise in the South West - Help the Fight Against the Weeds that are Taking Over our Waterways

Defra, the Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly

Government today launched the second phase of the Be Plant Wise campaign

to raise awareness of the damage caused by invasive aquatic plants at a

time when pond owners may be thinking about tidying their ponds ready

for winter.

The

release of just a tiny fragment of plant can establish a population

that can choke an entire waterway, causing damage to the natural

environment and costing the economy millions. The problem can be

heightened at this time of year when gardeners may unknowingly assist

the spread of harmful plants by disposing of unwanted pond plants

inappropriately. By ensuring unwanted plants are composted properly and

waste pond water is disposed of carefully away from streams, rivers,

ponds or lakes, gardeners can help protect the environment and save the

nation money.

Invasive species have been discovered in Studland in Dorset.

Launching the second phase of the campaign Environment Minister Richard Benyon said: “It’s

important we raise awareness and encourage pond owners to be more plant

wise at this time of year when they are starting to think about tidying

their ponds. Many retailers are already taking steps to ensure people

know what they’re buying and advising customers on how to dispose of

unwanted pond waste properly.

“Making sure that ponds and rivers

are cleared properly has real benefits to our natural environment. We

must prevent the spread of these plants so that our rivers and wildlife

can thrive and remain a safe and enjoyable place to visit.”

The Be Plant Wise campaign

highlights five of the worst offending invasive aquatic plants that are

threatening our wildlife and waterways. Plants such as floating

pennywort, New Zealand pigmyweed, water-primrose, parrot’s feather and

water fern can be found in your garden pond. Parrot’s feather is now

adapting to the UK winters by becoming more frost resistant and water

fern can readily colonise areas of freshwater, growing at great speed,

doubling in size every two to three days.

Floating Pennywort is

being found at an increasing number of sites in North East London, near

the Olympic site along the River Lee and the River Roding, and also on

the River Wandle in south west London. It is the most expensive of all

aquatic weeds to control and the Environment Agency estimate they spent

£510,260 on controlling approximately 300 km of it in 2009. It spreads

quickly in spring and summer when it dominates the surface of the water,

often covering it completely and blocking out oxygen and light for the

flora and fauna beneath.

Pond owners are advised to:

·

Compost with care – make sure you dispose of the whole plant properly

and no fragments break away; dispose of waste pond and fish tank water

away from streams, rivers, ponds or lakes;

· Stop the spread – be

careful not to introduce invasive species into the wild, even

accidentally, as you could be breaking the law; and

· Know what

you grow – pick the right plants for your pond and manage them

carefully. Choose non-invasive species where possible.

Be Plant Wise Case Studies – South West:

Little Sea, Studland, Dorset:

This

is one of the most pristine lakes in lowland England and is within a

National Nature Reserve. It has extremely important plant and animal

life, including many national rarities and is owned by the National

Trust.

Crassula helmsii was discovered in the neighbouring Eastern

Lake. The National Trust has joined with Natural England and volunteers

to try and control it and to stop it getting in to Little Sea but it

was found in Little Sea about three years ago, along with large

quantities of Nuttall's water weed.

The Trust have carried out

detailed canoe surveys, installing black plastic mats and digging it

out, but it continues to spread. It is now becoming semi-terrestrial and

going in to mires and marshes and smothering rare plants. It is growing

amongst reeds and willow where it is very difficult to manage.

The trust are part -funding a Phd student to look at ways of managing it, and buying a boat to gain access to the areas.

It

is unclear how Crassula and Nuttall's water weed got to Little Sea but

it maybe deliberate dumping of water weeds or even brought over on

duck's feet or by Sika deer. Flooding and wind can then spread it

further.