|
11
May 2007 …. Immediate Release
INVASIVE
SPECIES START AT HOME
Invasive
non-native species of aquatic plants are rampaging through our countryside
with new species arriving and causing problems every year.
Recent Government guidance focuses on an early warning system,
identifying problem plants when there is still a chance of eradicating
them.
Water
primrose, a native of South America, is starting to arrive and is already
widespread in
north west
mainland
Europe
where it is proving incredibly difficult to get rid of.
A Government-funded trial is being carried out by the Centre for
Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) to look at the potential for eradicating water
primrose before it takes hold of our waterways.
Other species like parrot’s feather,
New Zealand
pygmy weed, floating pennywort and water fern are already well-established
in
Great Britain
, crowding out native wildlife, blocking waterways and creating rotting
mats of vegetation in winter. It
costs over £3million per year to control these plants and, for some such
as floating pennywort, it is very tricky to remove as it can re-grow from
small fragments.
Chris Rostron, Water for Wildlife
UK
manager, said: “Gardeners are on
the frontline in the fight against these invaders.
We absolutely depend on them being aware of what not to buy at
garden centres and we know some plants can be mis-labelled.
We want everyone to know the information they need on what to avoid
is on the National Wildlife Trusts website in the water for wildlife
section check out www.wildlifetrusts.org.”
Warwickshire
Wildlife Trusts is encouraging all their members and the public to be on
the look out for these invasive species and asking people to make
themselves aware of what the plants look like to ensure they don’t buy
them and they can notify the Trust of any problem areas they see in the
wider countryside.
Louise
Sutherland
Wetland Project Officer for Warwickshire Wildlife Trust explains what to do if you have any of these plants. “If you have any of
these plants in your pond, please take them out!
Just by having them in your pond you’re endangering native
wildlife; birds visiting your pond can transfer fragments of the plants
into other waterways. Please
dispose of the plants through carefully drying them out and then either
burning, burying or composting them. Please
do not move the plants to another pond or waterway.
You can order one of the Wildlife Trusts FREE postcards to help you
easily identify the plants, these are available from the www.wildlifetrusts.org
website or from Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve Visitor Centre,
Brandon Lane
,
Coventry
,
CV3 3GW
”
ENDS
Press
Contact:
Louise
Sutherland, Wetland Project Officer, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust – 024
7630 8995.
|
