Description
Please be aware we're experiencing ongoing issues with the non-native invasive plant Floating Pennywort on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. It has spread across most of this canal, with extensive pennywort present in the Alvechurch area. Please avoid travelling through the clumps where possible. If this is unavoidable, ensure that bits caught on the boat are removed and disposed of in a bin. Do not put it back in the canal. This also applies to weed hatches and props.
Last year the Trust spent approx. £25k tackling this using machinery and biological controls. We want to ensure that boaters are aware of the risk of spreading this plant, which is able to grow extensively in the summer and can risk causing navigational restrictions. Our Operations teams are currently undertaking control works earlier this season to ensure we do not have large outbreaks across the canal.
We would also appreciate any sightings or records being directed to charles.hughes@canalrivertrust.org.uk so that we can gather as much info as possible in case of the need to instruct contractors to undertake any additional works.
For more information on this plant please visit: Floating Pennywort » NNSS (nonnativespecies.org).
