Aquatic plants, imported from overseas and sold for use in gardens and ponds, can spread into wild areas where they don’t occur naturally and wreak havoc, threatening some of our most precious wildlife sites across the UK, including many RSPB nature reserves.
The launch of the invasive aquatic plant awareness campaign by Defra and the Scottish Government encourages gardeners to be aware of the risks posed by non-native plants and provides guidance on how to minimize the spread of these pest species. The Be Plant Wise campaign was launched today by celebrity gardener Charlie Dimmock and biodiversity minister Huw Irranca-Davies.
The spread of non-native pond plants to nature reserves is a major issue for the RSPB and the Society has today welcomed the initiative, known as Be Plant Wise.
Dr Paul Walton is the RSPB’s lead on non-native species. He said: “When people move animals and plants around the world and allow them to escape into areas where they do not naturally occur, serious environmental damage can result. This is one of the main causes of wildlife extinctions.
Climate change will make matters worse
“In the UK, aquatic plants have been particularly damaging, spreading from garden ponds and choking wetlands habitats, including many RSPB nature reserves. Once established they are difficult, sometimes impossible, to remove - and a warming climate will make matters worse.
“We need more research into how to manage invasive plant problems. By making people aware of which species present a threat and promoting alternatives for the garden, this campaign is the ideal start. It promises to help protect our wildlife and nature reserves from a major threat.”
The guidance covers four non-native species: New Zealand pigmyweed, also known as Australian swamp stonecrop (Crassula helmsii); parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum); water fern, also known as fairy fern (Azolla filiculoides); and floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides).
RSPB reserves
Many RSPB reserves across the UK have been affected by these plants, including:
Conwy and Yns-Hir nature reserves, in Wales
Lochwinnoch nature reserve, in Renfrewshire, Scotland
Rye Meads nature reserve, in Hertfordshire
Arne nature reserve, in Dorset
Dungeness nature reserve, in Kent
Fen Drayton Lakes nature reserve, in Cambridgeshire
Old Hall Marshes nature reserve, in Essex
Sandwell Valley nature reserve, in Birmingham
Blacktoft Sands nature reserve, in East Yorkshire
Exminster Marshes nature reserve, in Devon
Story taken from RSPB