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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, for example, a native of South America, is starting to arrive, and 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 whilst it is still only recently arrived in the UK.

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 they can get hold of information on the key aquatics to avoid on the Water for Wildlife website through the ‘All Choked Up’ campaign. If you have them in your pond, dispose of them through drying out and then either burning, burying or composting. On no account move them to another pond or waterway.”

The Wildlife Trusts are pioneering new ways of tackling invasives. For example, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust - funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund - aims to generate a better understanding of the River Avon’s natural & cultural heritage in Wiltshire, Hampshire & Dorset through the Living Rivers Project.

Through the Wessex Chalk Streams Project this three-year project is driving the first catchment-scale approach to tackling both land and aquatic invasive plants, which in turn threaten the river’s unique and rich biodiversity. Key objectives include a comprehensive awareness campaign and the establishment of demonstration sites, alongside a self-sustaining stakeholder forum. A variety of non-native species have taken a foothold across the river catchment but the strategy aims to follow a ‘nip it in the bud’ methodology, dealing with outbreaks whilst they are small and can be removed relatively easily.

For further information please contact:
Anna Guthrie, senior press officer, The Wildlife Trusts
Tel: 01636 670075 / Email: aguthrie@wildlifetrusts.org

Chris Rostron, Water for Wildlife Manager, The Wildlife Trusts
Tel: 01773 881176 / E-mail: CRostron@derbyshirewt.co.uk

Jonathan Newman, CEH
Tel : 01491 692556 / jone@ceh.ac.uk

Alastair Driver, Environment Agency
Tel: 07836 600868 / E-mail: alastair.driver@environment-agency.gov.uk

Martin de Retuerto, Wiltshire Chalk Streams Project, The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Tel: 01380 737008 / E-mail: martin.deretuerto@naturalengland.org.uk

Editors' notes:

Water for Wildlife
Water for Wildlife aims to take forward wetland conservation across the UK, through partnership between The Wildlife Trusts, the water companies, Water UK, the Environment Agency and local communities. To find out more about Water for Wildlife please visit the website at: www.waterforwildlife.org.uk

The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH)
The CEH is the UK's Centre of Excellence for research in the land and freshwater environmental sciences. They are carrying out a trial project to look at potential for early eradication of water primrose, funded through Defra. Readers who have seen water primrose, or would like more information on the Government-funded trial, should contact Jonathan Newman by email jone@ceh.ac.uk or telephone 01491 692556

The Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is the lead public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. The agency has 26 local areas and works on pollution control of air, land and water, flood and coastal defence, water resources, conservation, fisheries management, recreation and navigation.

Water UK
The water industry is divided into 12 regional water and sewerage companies, with 12 smaller water-only companies. The companies are all members of Water UK, the organisation that represents the industry at national and European level. The companies that provide direct support to the Water for Wildlife project are:
1. Anglian Water
2. Bristol Water
3. Dwr Cymru Welsh Water
4. Folkestone and Dover Water
5. Mid-Kent Water
6. Northern Ireland Water Services
7. Portsmouth Water
8. Severn Trent Water
9. South East Water
10. South Staffordshire Water
11. Thames Water
12. United Utilities

There are 47 local Wildlife Trusts across the whole of the UK, the Isle of Man and Alderney. We are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone. With 670,000 members, we are the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the full range of the UK’s habitats and species, whether they be in the countryside, in cities or at sea. 108,000 of our members belong to our junior branch, Wildlife Watch. We manage 2,200 nature reserves covering more than 80,000 hectares; we stand up for wildlife; we inspire people about the natural world and we foster sustainable living.