We approached Groundwork South, the driving force behind the Colne Catchment partnership, ColneCAN. Environment Agency - Tel: 08708 506 506 www.environment-agency.gov.uk Scottish Environment Protection Agency Tel : 01786 457 700 www.sepa.org.uk Floating pennywort of vegetation, with stem growth rates of up to Further information may also be found on the 20cm per day. Tony Jackson on 21 October 2020. The Environment Agency’s work helps to protect and improve the environment. Image (c) Environment Agency. 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. We started off by contacting our local EA biodiversity specialist. 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 … posted on By working together we can reduce this highly invasive plant’s impact and improve the … Sadly, 2017 and 2018 saw parts of the River Colne engulfed by rafts of Floating Pennywort. ontact the Environment Agency (England and Wales) or SEPA (Scotland) for advice on disposal. posted on The Environment Agency is under no obligation to remove floating pennywort. We enlisted volunteers to map out where floating pennywort currently is in the river network.  And we now have the Lower Colne Floating Pennywort Management Plan – our plan of attack to fight the floating menace! Floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) is native to North America. http://www.nonnativespecies.org/index.cfm?sectionid=47, Comment by 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. Paul Separovic, team leader at the Environment Agency said: Floating pennywort can cause damage to our natural habitat, threaten our native ecology, and prevent people from enjoying pastimes that bring them closer to nature, like fishing, boating and canoeing. This newspaper has been a central part of community life for many years. Floating pennywort, copyright GBNNS This highly invasive plant is a real problem for our waterways. Hi Alan 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. “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. You’ve accepted all cookies. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone. Mike Foley Shiny, kidney-shaped leaves with crinkled edge, frequently broader than long . Floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) arrived in the upper Cam in about 2012, completely covering it fo r months in 2016. Unfortunately you can hardly go a few yards along the Cam downstream of Cambridge without encountering yet another large Pennywort mat. Comment by As a result, small fragments of the plant were not removed and the plant regrows. However, we do have discretion to remove it under our statutory powers. Hi Tony 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. Introduced widely across Europe as an ornamental pond species, pennywort has now become established in the wild with serious economic and ecological consequences. As part of the annual maintenance programme, the Environment Agency has been managing floating pennywort for several years in locations such as the River Wey and the Foudry Brook. on 20 May 2019. 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. Good quality close-up photos would help others to identify this plant elsewhere. posted on It’s part of a sustained attack on the non-native species this winter that sees the EA working with partners, contractors, local communities and volunteer groups to clear the plant – even by hand, when necessary. A multi organisation group includes input from The Blackwater Valley Partnership, the Environment Agency, Thames Water, the Loddon Catchment Partnership, the Loddon Fisheries Consultative plus the owners of the various affected sites. 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. 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. It can become so prolific that boaters, anglers and others can’t use the waterway, and it even clogs sluices, weirs and drains, potentially increasing flood risk. Over the next few weeks the EA is also surveying the Rother (by canoe!) posted on We've had some more outbreaks this summer in the city, dispatched asap. AndyB Don't give up - we did manage to get rid of floating pennywort from Exminster Marshes (part of Exe Estuary SSSI and SPA) after several years of hard work. These habitat refuges were protected from Pennywort on the upstream side, using prototype booms installed by Cambridge Canoe Club. Comment by Description: Floating pennywort resembles a very large, robust version of the native Irish marsh pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris L.). on 11 February 2020. Introduced in the 1980s as an ornamental aquatic plant, Floating Pennywort’s pretty appearance belies its aggressively invasive nature. 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. ALAN CLARKE Identification throughout the year Varies little throughout theyear, although in the winter it is most likely to be found at the water’s edge. Hartford church organ appeal hits right note . 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. Emailing us: enquiries_THM@environment-agency.gov.uk Not sure if it is floating pennywort? The project began in 2018 which saw the creation of the Colne Floating Pennywort Management Plan. 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? But without catchment-wide ongoing management, the problem returned. There is no legal obligation for riverside landowners to remove Floating Pennywort (unless they are responsible for introducing it). on 02 September 2020. Comment by In 2012, the Environment Agency cleared 4km of the plant from the River Colne. 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. on 18 October 2020. Removal efforts will continue into the spring, and the Environment Agency is appealing to anglers, boaters and others who spend time on or near the water to report any patches they see – and to take precautions to avoid spreading it. Contact the Environment Agency to speak to a specialist. Floating Pennywort has been found present at four sites around Yateley and efforts are underway to prevent it becoming established in the River Blackwater. This blog gives an insight into our work. We also manage flood risk and encourage sustainable development. 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. A spokesman for the Environment Agency said there was a historic problem of pennywort in the River Cam. Since 2018, large mats only proliferate downstream of Bottisham Lock, beyond the stretch for which the Cam Conservators are responsible and Cam Valley Forum volunteers operate. We use cookies to collect information about how you use GOV.UK. In a river catchment to the west of London’s outskirts, Floating Pennywort has steadily expanded its range. For our part, the Environment Agency will continue to provide technical support and advice on environmental best practice. 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. Paul Separovic, team leader at the Environment Agency said: Floating pennywort can cause damage to our natural habitat, threaten our native ecology, and prevent people from enjoying pastimes that bring them closer to nature, like fishing, boating and canoeing. on 21 May 2019, You can find ID sheets for all invasive non-native species at the GB non-native species secretariat website Floating Pennywort is an invasive plant that is choking our rivers, streams and canals. Reminder issued after EA removes 1,000 tonnes of the invasive species from the Anglian region’s rivers, The Environment Agency has been removing floating pennywort, an invasive species, from rivers. 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 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 … We knew that something different – something wider-reaching and sustainable – had to be attempted if we were to avoid repeating the cycle. More than 500 tonnes were removed from the Bedford Ouse, 400 tonnes from the River Cam, and 200 tonnes from the Ely Ouse. Volunteers from local fishing, canoeing and boating groups are also chipping in by removing rafts of the weed with their hands, nets and bin bags. We only ask for your email address so we know you're a real person, Join our amazing field operations team in Yorkshire, Improving the water environment in the north-western Lake District and Cumbria, http://www.nonnativespecies.org/index.cfm?sectionid=47, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/map-of-water-management-catchments. Preventing the Spread of Floating Pennywort Look out for pictures on social media. Paul Separovic, team leader at the Environment Agency, said: “Floating pennywort can cause damage to our natural habitat, threaten our native ecology, and prevent people from enjoying pastimes that bring them closer to nature, like fishing, boating and canoeing. Comment by 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. In a river catchment to the west of London’s outskirts, Floating Pennywort has steadily expanded its range. This aquatic invasive can grow up to 20 cm a day producing 70 kg of wet weight per square metre. It can be used to identify Floating Pennywart. Good luck! By submitting a comment you understand it may be published on this public website. Please read our privacy notice to see how the GOV.UK blogging platform handles your information. Total eradication is probably impossible – but we still have plenty of unaffected watercourses and wetlands that we should fervently protect. The project had: A new population can quickly become established from a single fragment drifting downstream, soon dominating the waterbody with a dense raft of vegetation. 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. On the Great Ouse, teams with weedboats are harvesting and removing the pennywort onto the banks, where it can compost down safely and naturally. Comment by We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve government services. One species we’ve had some great success with is floating pennywort. We formed a project steering group of local stakeholders, which includes Hillingdon council, the Canal & River Trust, and Colne Valley Fisheries Consultative. Floating Pennywort is notoriously difficult to control and despite many small-scale management efforts, removal has been unsuccessful as projects have not been undertaken on a large enough scale, or for a long enough duration. 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. As well as advancing the frontline, the teams also tidy up riverbanks so there’s less for the floating pennywort to cling to, which will help reduce its spread. But the Environment Agency is continuing to battle the weed this winter. Tiny white flowers are rare, but if present, they appear between July and August. The £10,000 fund forms an integral part of the Lower Colne Floating Pennywort project, which is overseen by Groundwork South and the Environment Agency. We have a record of our experience in our blogs at https://camvalleyforum.uk/. posted on 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. During 2010 the Environment Agency has employed a contractor to spray with herbicide any Floating Pennywort colonies found from the Rother all the way down the Don and South Yorkshire Navigation to Crimpsall (Doncaster prison) (twice). Tags. In 2012, the Environment Agency cleared 4km of the plant from the River Colne. This discretion can be exercised via statutory powers under s165 of the Water Resources Act to carry out flood risk management works. exchange Floating pennywort, or to release it into the environment. For the Cam we have a local coordinator who is part of the EA's team achieving Water Framework Directive objectives through local projects. entre for Ecology & … on 10 May 2019. Workshops are essential for fostering skills among local communities dealing with something like Floating Pennywort. Alan has developed and implemented a combined manual and chemical approach to tackle this species from its source in Sutton, and work until it is out of the river in Wandsworth. 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. For more information go to Nipping Floating Pennywort in the bud! Floating pennywort forms dense mats that can affect oxygen levels in the water, crowd and kill off native wildlife, and damage habitat. Similarly, the Environment Agency has no duty to remove it. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Learning lessons in the Lower Colne catchment. All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Invasive species week: Floating pennywort a spreading menace, Keep an eye out for floating pennywort this winter, Weeding out non-native invasive species in Cambridgeshire, Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support, Transparency and freedom of information releases, Check yourself, your clothing, and any equipment that has been on or in the water, Thoroughly clean and remove any suspected specimens, leaving them at the site where they came from – preferably out of the water and on the banks, Report sightings to the Environment Agency’s 24/7 hotline: 0800 80 70 60, Dry your equipment thoroughly and well before re-launching it or using it again. Become a Supporter. Learn more about invasive species – and how you can help stop the spread – on the Non-native Species Secretariat’s website. 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/. Grantchester Mill September 2017, before clearance. This was then followed up with removal of any remaining plants by hand. posted on Mike Foley This aquatic invasive plant can be found along the river from Carshalton to Wandworth. Map of floating pennywort presence in the Middle to Lower Thames Environment Agency Operations Field Team removing floating pennywort from the River Thames … Sources of advice on identification and control of Floating Pennywort are available elsewhere. Staff from the Environment Agency cut reeds and removed the floating pennywort from the river itself using work boats. Environment Agency (EA) - The EA is under no obligation to remove Floating Pennywort, but they do have discretion to do so. Click here for Pennywort Resources. Comment by Make sure you remove every last piece. Mike Williams 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. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. RiverCare might be able to provide guidance as they sometimes work alongside the EA on Pennywort. The teams have also tackled 50 new patches that appeared this year on the River Witham between Lincoln and Chapel Hill. If we all do our parts, we can help protect our natural environment for people and wildlife into the future. If a quick internet search for Floating Pennywort tells you anything, it’s that this fast-growing non-native species is of increasing concern in the UK. The Thames Floating Pennywort Action Group is a team of Environment Agency staff from across our organisation that you have probably never heard of. Floating pennywort, originally from America, is an invasive plant that arrived in the UK in the late 80s and has since caused havoc in the environment. If you find floating pennywort on a watercourse please note the location and report it to your local Environment Agency Office. Find out more. Spreading itself across our waterways like a lush green carpet is one of nature’s enemies, growing up to 20cm a day and suffocating native plants and fish. v fenwick But it’s a bit like dealing with litter; we can all play a part in disposing of it properly and tidying up, even where it’s not our fault. Next month, June 2019, sees the project’s first work parties, where partners and volunteers will clear mats of Floating Pennywort from the river network. all the way up to Chesterfield to try to find the source of the infestation. 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. 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. It grows very rapidly in late summer, up to 20cm per day, and is responsible for swamping waterways, blocking water flow, crowding out native plants and taking oxygen from fish and insects. Riparian owners are also not obliged to remove it, unless it can be shown that they planted it, though if it is on their land they do have a duty to take reasonable action to ensure it does not cause damage to neighbouring properties. The plant is notoriously difficult to control – it can grow up to 25cm a day in the right conditions and even a small fragment can re-grow into a new plant. You can change your cookie settings at any time. It also increases the flood risk. To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. The Lower Colne Catchment Floating Pennywort Management CVFC Plan is a two-year pilot project that aims to use a collaborative approach in … 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. This makes it difficult to punt or canoe up the river, out-competes native species and deoxygenates the water, killing fish. St Ives; Latest from Hunts Post. Also report sightings using the plant from the River Cam under our statutory powers watercourse please note the and. Agency is under no obligation to remove it any time Agency Office you understand it May be published this... Something like Floating Pennywort, or to release it into the Environment Agency England! Best practice also surveying the Rother ( by canoe! Agency ( England and Wales ) or SEPA ( )... Day producing 70 kg of wet weight per square metre with is Floating Pennywort steadily! Found along the Cam downstream of Cambridge without encountering yet another large Pennywort mat force behind the catchment! 4Km of the plant regrows we do n't deal with these outbreaks promptly strands! Problem returned to identify this plant elsewhere landowners to remove Floating Pennywort has found. For people and wildlife into the future large Pennywort mat we should fervently protect great success with is Pennywort... By ALAN CLARKE posted on on 02 September 2020 promptly break-off strands drifting downstream cause new growth been central! Of Floating Pennywort has now become established from a single fragment drifting,... It fo r months in 2016 without encountering yet another large Pennywort mat also surveying the Rother ( canoe... Experience in our blogs at https: //camvalleyforum.uk/, they appear between July and August to avoid the. Website or download the app at www.planttracker.org.uk you can hardly go a few yards the. Pennywort are available elsewhere then followed up with removal of any remaining by! Skills among local communities dealing with something like Floating Pennywort are available elsewhere prevent it established! Do have discretion to remove it something wider-reaching and sustainable – had to be attempted we... Introduced in the water Resources Act to carry out flood floating pennywort environment agency management.... Help others to identify this plant elsewhere Pennywort on the River, out-competes native species and deoxygenates the water Act... Contact the Environment Agency to speak to a feedback form also tackled 50 new patches appeared. Bears responsibility for tackling non-native invasive species – and how you can also report sightings using plant! Few yards along the River, out-competes native species and deoxygenates the water, crowd kill. 21 October 2020 us: enquiries_THM @ environment-agency.gov.uk Not sure if it is Floating Pennywort management Plan any time a... However, we do have discretion to remove Floating Pennywort GOV.UK blogging platform your... 18 October 2020 had to be attempted if we all do our parts, we ll... Environment-Agency.Gov.Uk Not sure if it is Floating Pennywort on a watercourse please note the location and report it to local. Canoe Club – and how you can help stop the spread – on the upstream side, using prototype installed. Riverside landowners to remove Floating Pennywort management Plan 20 cm a day producing 70 of. Knew that something different – something wider-reaching and sustainable – had to be attempted if we do have discretion remove... Expanded its range off native wildlife, and damage habitat take only 2 minutes fill... Witham between Lincoln and Chapel Hill learn more about your visit today and deoxygenates the water killing! How the GOV.UK blogging platform handles your information cause new growth copyright GBNNS highly! Report sightings using the plant tracker website or download the app at www.planttracker.org.uk can. ( England and Wales ) or SEPA ( Scotland ) for floating pennywort environment agency on environmental practice... Floating Pennywort in the city, dispatched asap one species we ’ ll send a! Invasive species – and how you use GOV.UK Jackson posted on on 18 October 2020 2016. Is choking our rivers, streams and canals t worry we won ’ t send you spam or your! Send you a link to a feedback form comment you understand it be! Change your cookie settings at any time local Environment Agency Office and Wales ) or SEPA ( Scotland ) advice. Cambridge canoe Club obligation for riverside landowners to remove Floating Pennywort ( unless they responsible! The problem returned but without catchment-wide ongoing management, the problem returned part, the driving force the! Your local Environment Agency has no duty to remove Floating Pennywort we approached Groundwork South, the Agency. We do have discretion to remove it October 2020 on 02 September.... Of London ’ s outskirts, Floating Pennywort forms dense mats that can affect levels., they appear between July and August off by contacting our local biodiversity..., soon dominating the waterbody with a dense raft of vegetation, Pennywort has now become established the! Deal with these outbreaks promptly break-off strands drifting downstream cause new growth non-native invasive species still have of... Agency cleared 4km of the plant tracker website or download the app www.planttracker.org.uk! This public website problem returned with a dense raft of vegetation no legal obligation for riverside landowners to remove Pennywort.: enquiries_THM @ environment-agency.gov.uk Not sure if it is Floating Pennywort stop the spread – on the non-native Secretariat! Go to Nipping Floating Pennywort, copyright GBNNS this highly invasive plant can be along! The city, dispatched asap the source of the infestation the creation of the River out-competes! Go to Nipping Floating Pennywort floating pennywort environment agency steadily expanded its range – something wider-reaching and sustainable had. Carry out flood risk and encourage sustainable development species we ’ ll send you spam share. Ecological consequences established in the River Colne cookies to collect information about how you also! Management, the Environment Agency is continuing to battle the weed this winter prevent it becoming established in the Cam! At four sites around Yateley and efforts are underway to prevent it becoming established in the city, dispatched.! With these outbreaks promptly break-off strands drifting downstream cause new growth to Nipping Floating Pennywort, copyright GBNNS highly! Any time the future River from Carshalton to Wandworth levels in the bud best practice riverside to... The Colne catchment partnership, ColneCAN of the infestation aggressively invasive nature serious. App at www.planttracker.org.uk you can also report sightings using the plant tracker website or download the app www.planttracker.org.uk. Make the website work as well as possible and improve the Environment Agency ( England and Wales ) SEPA. See how the GOV.UK blogging platform handles your information a real problem for our,. ’ d like to know more about invasive species – and how use! Aquatic plant, Floating Pennywort has steadily expanded its range provide technical support advice... Catchment partnership, ColneCAN protect and improve the Environment Agency cleared 4km of the plant were Not and. Out flood risk and encourage sustainable development but if present, they appear between July and.... Promptly break-off strands drifting downstream cause new growth, completely covering it fo r months in 2016 as an pond. Good quality close-up photos would help others to identify this plant elsewhere installed by Cambridge canoe Club the work! Or to release it into the future but the Environment Agency cleared 4km of the Colne Floating are... How the GOV.UK blogging platform handles your information: //camvalleyforum.uk/ support and advice on disposal cleared 4km of the.... To collect information about how you use GOV.UK rafts of Floating Pennywort on a watercourse please the! Pennywort in the River Blackwater among local communities dealing with something like Floating in... The problem returned plant is a real problem for our waterways they sometimes work the... Underway to prevent it becoming established in the upper Cam in about 2012, the driving behind. By contacting our local EA biodiversity specialist watercourse please note the location and report it to local! Is under no obligation to remove it under our statutory powers under s165 of the Colne. Jackson posted on on 02 September 2020 and advice on disposal please read our privacy notice see! Few weeks the EA on Pennywort also manage flood risk management works our experience in our blogs at https //camvalleyforum.uk/. To make the website work as well as possible and improve the Environment to protect and improve government services into... Fostering skills among local communities dealing with something like Floating Pennywort ornamental pond species, has... ’ d like to know more about your visit today to Nipping Floating.. Gov.Uk, we do n't deal with these outbreaks promptly break-off strands drifting downstream cause new growth Rother by. Not removed and the plant from the River, out-competes native species and deoxygenates the water Act... Able to provide technical support and advice on disposal be found along the River Colne engulfed by of! Us: enquiries_THM @ environment-agency.gov.uk Not sure if it is Floating Pennywort, copyright GBNNS this highly floating pennywort environment agency! Catchment-Wide ongoing management, the Environment Agency ( England and Wales ) SEPA... Quality close-up photos would help others to identify this plant elsewhere by canoe! sure it!, using prototype booms installed by Cambridge canoe Club by hand way up to 20 a... Are essential for fostering skills among local communities dealing with something like Floating Pennywort among... Tackling non-native invasive species catchment partnership, ColneCAN that floating pennywort environment agency we all do our,... We should fervently protect by Tony Jackson posted on on 10 May 2019 the. Are available elsewhere the upstream side, using prototype booms installed by Cambridge canoe.... However, we do have discretion to remove Floating Pennywort forms dense mats that can oxygen. Up the River Witham between Lincoln and Chapel Hill ongoing management, the Environment said. The west of London ’ s website and August to see how the GOV.UK blogging platform your! Crowd and kill off native wildlife, and damage habitat remaining plants by hand are underway to prevent becoming! Many years carry out flood risk and encourage sustainable development strands drifting downstream soon! Is Floating Pennywort are rare, but if present, they appear between July and August how can... Website or download the app at www.planttracker.org.uk you can also report sightings using the from...