ONCE AGAIN THE INVASIVE WEED pennywort is taking over the Soar navigation.
It clogging up the river, Keith Gudgin reports.
Public appeal
So much so that Canal & River Trust has launched a public appeal for help tackling the invasive weed on the Soar. It adding that if left unchecked can choke native wildlife and spoil boater’s enjoyment when on a cruise.
The trust is utilising the Big Give Earth Raise match-funding campaign, which takes place between 22nd April and 29th April.
During the campaign week, it tells, public donations made to the project on Big Give’s website are doubled if it receives a minimum of £25,000. It means that we could get up to £50,000 to help our ongoing efforts to manage the problem weed on the Soar.
With a very generous local donor has already pledged £12,500, and we're now asking individuals, businesses and community groups in the area to get involved and help protect their local river by supporting the project.
For garden ponds
Floating pennywort, which was originally introduced into the United Kingdom in the 1980s as an ornamental plant for garden ponds, can grow up to 20cm in a day and is able to double its weight in as little as three days.But over the years has been allowed to spread as our pictures clearly show.
And as we have experienced the weed all to easily gets around propellers making cruising on the river somewhat difficult.
