The charity that cares for the River Soar in Leicestershire has launched a public appeal for help tackling an invasive weed which, if left unchecked, can choke native wildlife and spoil people’s enjoyment of their local waterways.
The Canal & River Trust is attempting to raise funds to help in its efforts to remove Floating Pennywort from the river as part of the Big Give ‘Earth Raise’ match-funding campaign, which takes place between 22 April and 29 April.
During the campaign week, public donations made to the project on Big Give’s website are doubled if it receives a minimum of £25,000. It means that the Trust could get up to £50,000 to help its ongoing efforts to manage the problem weed on the River Soar. A very generous local donor has already pledged £12,500, and the charity is now asking individuals, businesses and community groups in the area to get involved and help protect their local river by supporting the project.
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.
Without intervention the plant can spread in large, thick mats over the surface of the water smothering native plants and depriving the water of both light and oxygen which endangers the fish living beneath. It can also block overflow sluices, causing flooding, and restrict boating by clogging up propellers.
The most effective way to eradicate the weed is to physically pull it out, and the Trust, alongside support from its local volunteers, will use the funding to help towards the costs of removing the weed by boat
Hannah Booth, environment manager for the Canal & River Trust, said: “Floating Pennywort is a big problem on the River Soar, and if we didn’t tackle it then it would choke the water, causing problems for boats navigating the river and harming our local wildlife.
“Tackling the weed is a sizeable and ongoing task and, ahead of Earth Raise week, we’re appealing to people living and working in Leicestershire to help in our charity’s vital work.
“At a time when native wildlife is facing so many threats, this campaign gives people in Leicestershire the opportunity to take local action and every donation, no matter the size, can make a difference. We’re so grateful for the generous pledge we’ve already received, and for any further donations made during Earth Raise week as we work to keep local waterways alive now, and for future generations.”
People wanting to support the campaign can make a donation by going to Protect wildlife from pennywort in East Midlands – Big Give.
