Mystery Plant Poses Threat to Local Beauty Spot (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

Mystery Plant Poses Threat to Local Beauty Spot

November 23, 2005 1:37 PM

Local residents at Wyvern ponds

A plant imported into Britain in the 1980's for use in tropical aquaria and garden ponds has mysteriously found its way into the Reinwood Manor Ponds in Lindley and is now threatening to take over the ponds and the water courses that run beneath the site.

The infestation of floating pennywort, which can grow up to 20cm/7.0" a day, was discovered recently by a local residents' group set up in July 2005 by Lindley Ward residents and their Liberal Democrat Councillors, Christine Stanfield and Tony Woodhead, with the aim of returning the ponds to their former glories when they made up part of the Reinwood Manor Gardens.

Cllr Woodhead says: "We're not entirely sure how this pennywort stuff got into the pond in the first place. Myself, Cllr Stanfield and the Group first met at the ponds in July of this year and there was no sign of it then. Members of the residents group came to inspect the site a few weeks ago and tonnes of the stuff had appeared from nowhere. Apparently it grows very quickly, spreading out like a big mat to absorb all the oxygen, light and nutrients."

Cllr Stanfield says: "It is possible that someone from the surrounding area might have put some of the Pennywort into the ponds thinking that it would enhance their appearance. Sadly, it has had the opposite effect. I would like to remind Kirklees residents of the danger of introducing different types of plant into local habitats, especially when they may be uncertain of the impact they may have."

Cllr Stanfield also says: "Despite this temporary setback, the residents group have not been deterred. They held a working weekend over the 19th and 20th of November at which both Cllr Woodhead and I were present to start to remove the plant. Although the residents' hard work removing the plant has temporarily improved the situation at the ponds, the council's Leisure Service says that they will have to wait until Spring, when the plant has re-established itself, before returning to spray it with the appropriate chemicals."