Floating Pennywort

We have a narrow boat on a private mooring a couple of hours up the kennet from the Thames and spend a fair amount of time on both rivers and on our way to the thames pass a bit called Foundry brook that enters the kennet in the middle of Reading ,to cut a long story short this backwater was choked full of this weed last year and the EA went in with big diggers/plant to remove it which it appeared they had managed .
Not so its back again this year with a few clumps of this floating timebomb breaking free and heading down the kennet towards the Thames ,It got in there after the gren park development put some into its lake and it got out via a drainage ditch is the story i have heard but unconfirmed as yet .
Anyway once this baby is out of the bottle so to speak its spreads at a alarming rate !!!! ,We are due to pass there this coming weekend on the way to fill the boat with deisel for the winter so will update with some pics then as its a few weeks since i last passed the area ,It blocks sunlight out 100% from the surface so would think a real menace if it gets a hold Steve.

nice one buddy, definitely keep us all posted

Thanks for posting this Steve.

I have seen it on the Colne and Mole, is does grow at an alarming rate.

The only way to clear it is cut and taking up, I think 5 ft of the waters edge, clumps breaking away will reattach further downstream and so it goes on.

Let's us know when you are back there and how it looks.


Cheers

Came by there today and its still there although nothing like the amount before ,There are a few clumps that are around and just downstream of the junction where this waterway meets the Kennet ,Will try to phone BW about it in the week to see if they have any plans to try to remove it again and the EA as well as not sure who is dealing/dealt with it last time .
It is 2 locks and several miles away from the junction with the thames so fairly safe at the moment but the potential is there if not dealt with Steve.

spotted this nightmare plant in the mouth of the river mole at hampton court

Yes that was an unpleasant sight.

The EA will not come down for that alone so maybe some direct action next week? From knowing some of the river above, it was cleared earlier this year and suspect it is legacy.

It can be cleared using herbicides but as effective on smaller areas is carfeully removing, trying to avoid any breaking off, and putting up the bank away from the water.

gotta be a boat job buddy, otherwise some will definitely break of

I have a plan, bring your float rod as well

My boat needs an outing

Having had, not a little experience of treating this pernicious weed, I have a few words of advice.

If attempting to manually or mechanically remove the weed, please make sure some form of barrier is place to stop downstream contamination by the weed. Only 1cm of green material is required to root again, it also seems to have the ability to root from almost any part of the plant.

Herbicide treatment can be carried out using glyphosate with a sticking agent; "Top Film" or "Eco flex" being the most effective and safe as they are vegetable rather than mineral based, so more environmentally friendly. Also good results ahve been gained using codacine? oil.

Now that this invasive weed is as high upstream as Reading, all points downstream on the Thames are doomed to be contaminated I`m afraid. I carried out a treatment on the Mead Lake Ditch in Egham about 3 years ago where we manually removed every visible speck of the plant and then treated the stretch with herbicide. It was back as strong as ever a year later, I believe the thread like root system is very fragile and breaks off, staying in the bank when attempting to remove it manually.

At least regular management could keep the watercourse clear enough for normal recreational use but I think wiping out the plant is unlikely.

If you have any questions I`d be more than happy to help all I can

Mic

Great first post Mic - welcome to the club.

I'm being nosey but also interested - are you with the EA...or were you part of a fishing club work party?

Either way, good to have your knowledge on board.

Hello Steve,

Afraid to admit it but yes I work for the EA, but for how much longer?

Thanks for the kind words, and my offer stands of advice etc, I work nearly all year round treating various alien invasives.

Cheers

Mic

mic foot wrote:

Hello Steve,

Afraid to admit it but yes I work for the EA, but for how much longer?

Thanks for the kind words, and my offer stands of advice etc, I work nearly all year round treating various alien invasives.

Cheers

Mic

The TAC are big fans of the EA Mic. In fact, TAC are liaising over an article highlighting the unsung work you guys do. We're speaking to Tanya Houston and her fisheries team on the tidal and I believe John Sutton will also be involved.

The cuts you allude to come with the government wanting more volunteers to get involved, so if there's work party type stuff you want help with on the Thames give us lot on here a shout.

spot on buddy, we love the EA workers out there doing it, they are all kindred spirits, its the pencil pushers we have concerns about

If I can help, I`d be more than happy to.

Mic