ALL CHOKED UP – PREVENT POND PESTS

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is taking part in a campaign against aquatic invasive species

Garden ponds can be an important lifeline for many different species, however, they also represent a potential threat to wildlife if invasive non-native plant material and animals are introduced. Cheshire Wildlife Trust is warning gardeners about this threat to try and stop ponds from being choked up by invasive species.

The problem arises when plants and animals, particularly amphibians and reptiles, are introduced to garden ponds that are from a different area, habitat, country or even continent. Not all are invasive, some will not survive and others remain in small quantities. However, those that are invasive can have a very widespread and detrimental affect. This is not limited to garden ponds, some species are easily transfered to ponds and waterways in the wider countryside. When they reach natural ponds their effects can be catastrophic.

These species have not evolved alongside our plants and animals so they often have no predators or competitors. This can lead to plant material that multiplies uncontrollably, occupying the niches of native plants, blocking up waterways and rapidly reaching nuisance proportions, requiring expensive remedial work. Fish and mammals that have been introduced can cause problems in our water and wetlands, with ponds particularly suffering from the peril they represent.

Nationally the Wildlife Trust is seeking the revision of current legislation under Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. There is also lots that individuals can do to help. Be vigilant when buying pond plants, only buy natives or non-invasive exotics - avoid those listed below. Examine new purchases closely - sometimes Crassula or Azolla will hitch a ride on another plant. If in doubt, quarentine your new plant in a bucket of water for a few weeks.

Non-Native plants that will choke your pond

Floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides): Grows in slow-flowing or still water. Leaves range from circular to kidney bean shaped.
Parrots Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum): Very feathery leaves.
Australian Swamp Stonecrop / New Zealand Pigmyweed(Crassula helmsii): A plant with small light green leaves with pointed tips and which forms dense cushions smothering out all other plants.
Water Fern(Azolla filiculoides): Free-floating plant. Scale like leaves that are green in summer and red or bronze in winter. It can form dense floating mats of vegetation.

How you can help

• Make sure you buy only native pond plants that allow native animals to colonise your pond naturally.
• If you think you may already have an invasive species in your pond and you want help identifying it then contact Cheshire Wildlife Trust.
• Once the problem has been confirmed you can either leave the plants or animals there, try to control the problem yourself or seek help to remove or control the species. Remember wild animals are protected and some exotic species can be dangerous.

Water friendly plants

There are lots of native plants to choose from for your pond. If you want to introduce some colour here are some suggestions:

• Water mint, which has a delicate fragrance and pinkish-lilac flowers from July to September.
• Water forget-me-not, which has pretty blue flowers with a white/yellow centre from May to September.
• Purple loosestrife, which bears purple flower spikes between June and August.
• Yellow flag iris, has bright yellow flowers, and the tall spikey leaves make an impact all year.

If you want to know more about creating garden ponds for wildlife, we have a free information sheet.

To find out more about the All Choked Up campaign, visit The Wildlife Trusts' main website