Do not throw out your pond plants
The Broads Authority is asking people not to dump garden pond plants in natural watercourses.
Many garden ponds house invasive weeds originating from aquatic centres, which, once let loose in waterways, can smother habitats, choke ditches and cause flooding and navigation problems.
Andrea Kelly, Broads Authority Conservation Officer, said: “Invasive weeds are being reported more frequently and the Broads Authority and its partner organisations are struggling to keep them under control. The cost of dealing with the latest batch of invasive water plants has amounted to over £20,000 in the Broads and if people continue to dump material from their ponds into waterways this bill will rise.”
Once the plants get into the waterways they spread so rapidly they are almost impossible to control. Invasive species of most concern are floating pennywort, New Zealand stonecrop and parrot's feather.
How you can help:
· Do not dump anything from a garden pond into a watercourse
· If you do remove pond plants compost them
· There is no need to remove frogspawn from ponds, left alone the frogs will find their own balance
· If you see invasive plants in watercourses please telephone the Broads Authority on 01603 610734
