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Group aims to clear River Soar of invasive floating pennywort within five years
Overview
A volunteer group, Project River Soar, is working to clear an invasive and fast-growing plant species, floating pennywort, from a 30-mile stretch of the River Soar in Leicestershire over the next five years. Utilising methods proven successful on the River Stour in Essex, nearly 100 volunteers have been supporting the Canal and River Trust by manually removing the weed, which thrives in hot temperatures and low river flows.
Key points
- Project River Soar aims to clear floating pennywort from Aylestone to the River Trent within five years.
- Floating pennywort can grow up to 20cm a day and double its weight in three days.
- The Canal and River Trust reported that contractors have removed 1,660 tonnes of the weed from the River Soar since July.
- Volunteers successfully tested removal methods on a one-mile strip above Aylestone Mill Meadows, resulting in minimal regrowth this season.
- Hot temperatures and low river flows have created ideal growing conditions for the invasive plant.