Visitors to the Lake District are being asked to help prevent the spread of a “particularly bad” invasive weed that could wipe out native species if left unchecked.
Conservation organisations said they were dismayed to find New Zealand pigmyweed spreading rapidly across a number of lakes in the national park, including a previously pristine waterway.
Just a 2cm piece carried on clothing, a paddleboard or angling equipment is enough to introduce the aggressive invader to a body of water, West Cumbria Rivers Trust (WCRT) said.
Once it arrives in a lake, the species can dominate the waterway by forming dense mats, depleting oxygen for other plants, fish and invertebrates and restricting access for swimmers and other recreational water users. It can then be difficult and time consuming for conservationists to remove.
Conservationists have found the aquatic plant in Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwent Water and, “to the dismay of local conservation bodies, it’s been recently found in Crummock Water – hitherto a pristine lake”, WCRT said.
The organisation is working with the National Trust to devise a plan to tackle the spread but is calling upon members of the public to follow guidelines to stop pigmyweed being carried into unaffected waters:
Check all clothing, footwear and equipment for plant fragments and living organisms before leaving a water body. Pay particular attention to any crevices.
Clean and wash all equipment on site, leaving all organisms and plant fragments behind. Or wash on a hard standing surface away from a draining system.
Dry all equipment and clothing thoroughly before heading to the next water body. Some species can survive for two weeks in damp conditions.
Izzie Mullin, WCRT’s invasive species project officer, said: “We want everyone in the Lake District to be able to enjoy our lakes, tarns and rivers but we can only keep these fantastic natural resources accessible to people if they are in healthy conditions. “We need the help of everyone who comes through our area to be aware of the issue and help us #SpreadTheWordNotTheWeed and prevent the introduction of new INNS [invasive non-native species].”
Joe Bagnall, the National Trust’s riverlands ranger, said: “The importance of a healthy and functional natural environment cannot be overstated for the benefit of all our wellbeing, therefore it is the National Trust’s goal to ensure that the fantastic lakes and rivers in our care are kept in healthy conditions, allowing people to enjoy them for ever.”
