Worry over Crassula Helmsi

THE pernicious alien plant Crassula Helmsi has been discovered growing in the exposed mud area of two Grand Union Canal feed reservoirs.

The plant has been found at Startopsend (pictured)  and Wilstone reservoirs that feed the summit pound, our man on the spot tells us.

Keep away

The request by the Friends of Tring Reservoirs to help stop its spread, is that would anyone walking and especially their dogs please keep away from these areas.

It just takes a minute piece of crassula attached to boots and paws to be transferred to a new area to cause it to spread at an alarming rate, smothering out native species and completely affecting the ecological balance of the SSSI. Plans to eradicate the plant are in hand.