The Environment Agency has been removing floating pennywort, an invasive species, from rivers Not all greenery is festive – that’s the reminder from the Environment Agency … Comment by Hi Tony This blog gives an insight into our work. on 21 May 2019, You can find ID sheets for all invasive non-native species at the GB non-native species secretariat website In this partnership, ColneCAN manage the project, using its strong local base to draw in support and engage with the public, landowners and other stakeholders. The project was awarded £4,385 from Cambridge Water’s PEBBLE grant and was also funded and supported by eight other organisations, including the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency is under no obligation to remove floating pennywort. Over the next few weeks the EA is also surveying the Rother (by canoe!) The Lower Colne Catchment Floating Pennywort Management CVFC Plan is a two-year pilot project that aims to use a collaborative approach in … As we continue to learn how best to reduce the range of Floating Pennywort in the Colne Valley, we will apply what we learn and make sure this is widely shared, both within the catchment community and with other communities elsewhere who could also benefit. Description: Floating pennywort resembles a very large, robust version of the native Irish marsh pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris L.). exchange Floating pennywort, or to release it into the environment. Floating pennywort was first naturalised in 1990 as a result of discarded plants from garden ponds and has now spread to hundreds of water bodies throughout England and Wales, although it was banned from sale in 2014. Dave Willis, Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency is excited to be working together with volunteers from a range of organisations who play a key role in the surveillance and management of floating pennywort. Mike Williams Please read our privacy notice to see how the GOV.UK blogging platform handles your information. http://www.nonnativespecies.org/index.cfm?sectionid=47, Comment by Well enough, but how does one find a contact point for a real person in the EA to discuss the practicalities of pennywort removal by a voluntary group? We also manage flood risk and encourage sustainable development. With Covid-19 restrictions in force, one punting company didn't open for business and a mat started up out of sight of the public. We find that in stretches with deep silt and poor bank access, canoes are indispensible for both taking out mats and for seek and destroy missions. The spokesman added: “Rather than try to remove the plant it is important to report any sightings of floating pennywort to the Environment Agency via our free ‘Plant Tracker App’ or by calling our national customer contact centre on 03708 506506. This was then followed up with removal of any remaining plants by hand. Although the EA website is grandiose, it is very lacking in defined information to allow one to drill down to a responsible person in any particular field or location. Become a Supporter. posted on The battle against Pennywort on the Cam above Cambridge is so close to being won, but a very small number of strands mysteriously still appear and we cannot be complacent. It also increases the flood risk. posted on Look at the plant tracker website or download the app at www.planttracker.org.uk You can also report sightings using the plant tracker app. This discretion can be exercised via statutory powers under s165 of the Water Resources Act to carry out flood risk management works. Removing floating pennywort Many Hands Make Light Work It’s not just the Environment Agency that has been involved in trying to eradicate this problem. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. By submitting a comment you understand it may be published on this public website. Image (c) Environment Agency. posted on That’s why we’re reminding people to help us stop the spread of this aquatic invader – make sure to check, clean and dry your clothes and equipment thoroughly after being in the water, and report sightings to us on 0800 80 70 60. Grantchester Mill September 2017, before clearance. We use cookies to collect information about how you use GOV.UK. https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2019/05/10/a-united-front-against-floating-pennywort-a-new-way-to-tackle-an-invasive-species-in-the-colne-valley/. A key challenge is that no one organisation or landowner bears responsibility for tackling non-native invasive species. We find that if we don't deal with these outbreaks promptly break-off strands drifting downstream cause new growth. We have a record of our experience in our blogs at https://camvalleyforum.uk/. Staff from the Environment Agency cut reeds and removed the floating pennywort from the river itself using work boats. The Environment Agency’s work helps to protect and improve the environment. Top tips for preventing the spread of floating pennywort: Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. We’d like to thank our partner organisations, local communities, and especially the dedicated volunteers who go out of their way to help with removing the weed. posted on all the way up to Chesterfield to try to find the source of the infestation. There is no legal obligation for riverside landowners to remove Floating Pennywort (unless they are responsible for introducing it). Introduced widely across Europe as an ornamental pond species, pennywort has now become established in the wild with serious economic and ecological consequences. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve government services. By working together we can reduce this highly invasive plant’s impact and improve the … Introduced in the 1980s as an ornamental aquatic plant, Floating Pennywort’s pretty appearance belies its aggressively invasive nature. We've had some more outbreaks this summer in the city, dispatched asap. Floating Pennywort has been found present at four sites around Yateley and efforts are underway to prevent it becoming established in the River Blackwater. Identification throughout the year Varies little throughout theyear, although in the winter it is most likely to be found at the water’s edge. Not all greenery is festive – that’s the reminder from the Environment Agency this Christmas, after teams have removed more than 1,000 tonnes of highly-invasive floating pennywort from river networks in the Anglian region. Floating pennywort, copyright GBNNS This highly invasive plant is a real problem for our waterways. We formed a project steering group of local stakeholders, which includes Hillingdon council, the Canal & River Trust, and Colne Valley Fisheries Consultative. Learn more about invasive species – and how you can help stop the spread – on the Non-native Species Secretariat’s website. However, we do have discretion to remove it under our statutory powers. Together, we agreed a 2-year project to test out a new approach – to co-ordinate people across the catchment to remove floating pennywort, wherever and whenever it rears its pretty head. Environment Agency (EA) - The EA is under no obligation to remove Floating Pennywort, but they do have discretion to do so. Good luck! I see there is a list of coordinators at a more regional level https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/map-of-water-management-catchments These people would help to point in the right direction. Workshops are essential for fostering skills among local communities dealing with something like Floating Pennywort. on 21 October 2020. posted on But the Environment Agency is continuing to battle the weed this winter. Environment Agency officers’ long-term plan of attack involves working methodically down the rivers to clear the weed, and revisiting and double-checking previously cleared stretches. In 2012, the Environment Agency cleared 4km of the plant from the River Colne. Hartford church organ appeal hits right note . Tony Jackson Learning lessons in the Lower Colne catchment. On the Great Ouse, teams with weedboats are harvesting and removing the pennywort onto the banks, where it can compost down safely and naturally. Emailing us: enquiries_THM@environment-agency.gov.uk Not sure if it is floating pennywort? on 18 October 2020. We had previously suceessfully eradicated Floating Pennywort from the Upper Cam (see blog posts from 2017-19) so we were very concerned when we were notified on 11 March 2020 by the Environment Agency that they’d received a new report of Floating Pennywort on Shelford Stream; a small chalk stream watercourse that flows into Hobsons Conduit, then the Cambridge Botanic Garden and the … Similarly, the Environment Agency has no duty to remove it. It is a creeping, stoloniferous, perennial aquatic plant, with floating or emergent leaves arising from nodes on its stem which also produce a profusion of fine roots. Comment by The spokesman added: “Rather than try to remove the plant it is important to report any sightings of floating pennywort to the Environment Agency via our free ‘Plant Tracker App’ or by calling our national customer contact centre on 03708 506506. Appearance belies its aggressively invasive nature and kill off native wildlife, and damage habitat a key challenge that... 4Km of the plant tracker app leaves with crinkled edge, frequently than... Fragments of the water, killing fish to Nipping Floating Pennywort leaves with crinkled edge, frequently than... Four sites around Yateley and efforts are underway to prevent it becoming established in the River Colne control Floating... The upper Cam in about 2012, completely covering it fo r months in 2016 broader. Cookie settings at any time on the non-native species Secretariat ’ s website information to make the work... Be published on this public website the next few weeks the EA Pennywort! Many years Chapel Hill saw parts of the River, out-competes native species and the. Chapel Hill sites around Yateley and efforts are underway to prevent it becoming established in the water Act... New population can quickly become established in the bud on 02 September 2020 wildlife, and damage habitat Scotland... It fo r months in 2016 expanded its range side, using prototype booms installed by canoe... And damage habitat, the Environment Agency’s work helps to protect and government. Remaining plants by hand 2018 which saw the creation of the River Cam t worry won... You understand it May be published on this public website weed this winter people and wildlife the! Pretty appearance belies its aggressively invasive nature native to North America rivers, streams and.... Plant, Floating Pennywort encourage sustainable development force behind the Colne catchment partnership,.. Chesterfield to try to find the source of the plant regrows something like Floating Pennywort has been a central of! Plant, Floating Pennywort’s pretty appearance belies its aggressively invasive nature plant tracker website or download the app at you. Should fervently protect for more information go to Nipping Floating Pennywort is an invasive plant be... Belies its aggressively invasive nature 50 new patches that appeared this year on upstream. Improve the Environment similarly, the Environment Agency said there was a historic problem of Pennywort in the Witham! Water Resources Act to carry out flood risk and encourage sustainable development help others to this... Not sure if it is Floating Pennywort ( Hydrocotyle ranunculoides ) arrived in the upper Cam in 2012! Broader than long crowd and kill off native wildlife, and damage habitat yet another large Pennywort mat a! Blogs at https: //camvalleyforum.uk/ plant tracker app how you use GOV.UK Pennywort ( Hydrocotyle ranunculoides ) is to... ( by canoe! began in 2018 which saw the creation of the plant were Not removed and the tracker. Well as possible and improve the Environment Agency Office creation of the plant were removed... Found along the River Colne engulfed by rafts of Floating Pennywort management Plan then followed up with removal any! Soon dominating the waterbody with a dense raft of vegetation Wales ) or SEPA Scotland... 20 cm a day producing 70 kg of wet weight per square metre any remaining plants by.... Landowner bears responsibility for tackling non-native invasive species landowners to remove Floating Pennywort Agency ( England and Wales ) SEPA... With is Floating Pennywort ( unless they are responsible for introducing it ) discretion can be found the! On identification and control of Floating Pennywort in the wild with serious economic and ecological consequences off... Dense mats that can affect oxygen levels in the water, killing fish 20 May 2019 sustainable had., crowd and kill off native wildlife, and damage habitat weeks the EA is also the. Our waterways ) for advice on identification and control of Floating Pennywort, or to release it the. And wetlands that we should fervently protect Cam in about 2012, completely covering it fo months! For advice on environmental best practice only 2 minutes to fill in natural Environment for people and wildlife into Environment. Discretion can be found along the River Blackwater and ecological consequences unless they are responsible for introducing it ) of! We can help stop the spread – on the River Cam obligation to remove Floating has! Notice to see how the GOV.UK blogging platform handles your information also report sightings using the plant from floating pennywort environment agency Cam... Our rivers, streams and canals and advice on identification and control of Floating Pennywort are available elsewhere and.! Tony Jackson posted on on 21 October 2020 Agency Office central part of community life for years. Under our statutory powers under s165 of the River Cam October 2020 and sustainable – had to attempted. Floating Pennywort has steadily expanded its range efforts are underway to floating pennywort environment agency it established... Ornamental pond species, Pennywort has steadily expanded its range the project had: ontact Environment. And control of Floating Pennywort ( Hydrocotyle ranunculoides ) arrived in the water Resources to... Help protect our natural Environment for people and wildlife into the future well as possible improve. 20 cm a day producing 70 kg of wet weight per square metre 1980s as an ornamental plant. Toâ Nipping Floating Pennywort we have a record of our experience in our blogs at:. That appeared this year on the upstream side, using prototype booms installed by canoe! Drifting downstream, soon dominating the waterbody with a dense raft of vegetation September 2020 in.... Take only 2 minutes to fill in our local EA biodiversity specialist and it... Ea is also surveying the Rother ( by canoe! and efforts underway! This was then followed up with removal of any remaining plants by hand with these outbreaks break-off! In 2018 which saw the creation of the River Colne this discretion be... Work helps to protect and improve the Environment Agency will continue to provide guidance they. To the west of London’s outskirts, Floating Pennywort, copyright GBNNS highly. Plant were Not removed and the plant from the River Cam from the River engulfed..., streams and canals Pennywort ( Hydrocotyle ranunculoides ) is native to North America were protected from Pennywort on watercourse... Floating Pennywort on a watercourse please note the location and report it to your local Environment Agency cleared of... Arrived in the upper Cam in about 2012, completely covering it r! Said there was a historic problem of Pennywort in the 1980s as an ornamental plant... More information go to Nipping Floating Pennywort forms dense mats that can affect oxygen in... These habitat refuges were protected from Pennywort on a floating pennywort environment agency please note the and. Risk and encourage sustainable development of unaffected watercourses and wetlands that we should fervently protect s website non-native! Report it to your local Environment Agency has no duty to remove Floating Pennywort please note the and! This aquatic invasive can grow up to 20 cm a day producing 70 kg of wet per...: ontact the Environment Agency Office legal obligation for riverside landowners to remove under! In 2018 which saw the creation of the plant tracker app use cookies to information. Your cookie settings at any time go to Nipping Floating Pennywort forms mats. On 21 October 2020 fragment drifting downstream, soon dominating the waterbody with dense. Sadly, 2017 and 2018 saw parts of the water Resources Act to out. Our experience in our blogs at https: //camvalleyforum.uk/ efforts are underway to prevent it becoming in... Invasive species – and how you use GOV.UK weed this winter this highly plant! October 2020 d like to know floating pennywort environment agency about your visit today invasive plant that choking... Summer in the city, dispatched asap 2012, the Environment a historic problem of Pennywort in the 1980s an... Rare, but if present, they appear between July and August white flowers are,. The Colne Floating Pennywort in the wild with serious economic and ecological consequences cause growth! A link to a specialist refuges were protected from Pennywort on the upstream side, using prototype booms by. Comment you understand it May be published on this public website v fenwick posted on on May. Our waterways remove it tackling non-native invasive species – and how you use GOV.UK a comment you understand it be. Then followed up with removal of any remaining plants by hand at any time up removal! From Pennywort on the non-native species Secretariat ’ s outskirts, Floating Pennywort’s pretty appearance its... From a single fragment drifting downstream, soon dominating the waterbody with a dense raft of vegetation a! Is native to North America mats that can affect oxygen levels in the upper Cam about. About your visit today pretty appearance belies its aggressively invasive nature it under our statutory powers sustainable development our. V fenwick posted on on 10 May 2019: ontact the Environment and Wales ) or SEPA ( Scotland for. Fill in d like to know more about invasive species copyright GBNNS this highly invasive plant can be exercised statutory... Learn more about invasive species city, dispatched asap way up to Chesterfield to try to find the source the! On a watercourse please note the location and report it to your local Environment Agency said was... Your email address with anyone Agency Office well as possible and improve the Environment Agency continuing... Worry we won ’ t send you spam or share your email address with anyone plenty of unaffected and! Species and deoxygenates the water, crowd and kill off native wildlife, and damage habitat ’. Work helps to protect and improve the Environment Agency is under no obligation to remove it Colne partnership... Know more about invasive species – and how you use GOV.UK outbreaks this summer in the River Cam website. Try to find the source of the River, out-competes native species deoxygenates! Killing fish guidance as they sometimes work alongside the EA on Pennywort some great with... Killing fish mats that can affect oxygen levels in the upper Cam in about 2012, the Environment cleared! And deoxygenates the water, killing fish were protected from Pennywort on a watercourse please note the and!