The NIEA has urged gardeners to be aware of the dangers of planting Invasive Aquatic Plants in their ponds. The key message to ‘Be Plant Wise’, highlights how a range of plants in a garden pond can quickly choke other plants through their excessive growth and also spread to other areas.

John Early, Northern Ireland Environment Agency Biodiversity Unit, said: "Many Invasive Aquatic Plants spread easily by fragments. This means that just one fragment escaping from a pond or fish tank could lead to a whole river or lake becoming infested. In those situations they are very difficult and costly to control."

Invasive Aquatic Plants include the Curly Waterweed, Parrot's Feather, Floating Pennywort, Nuttall’s Pondweed, New Zealand Pigmyweed, Water Fern and the Fringed Waterlily. Originating from other countries, these have been found in garden ponds in Northern Ireland.

Mr Early continued: "If these species get out into the wild they can over-run waterways, damage habitats, out compete native species and harm wildlife. Some plants can even grow to such an extent they form dense mats which can appear to be dry land to livestock and people, leading to problems for recreational activities such as boating and fishing."

NIEA’s advice is to properly compost unwanted aquatic plants away from waterways and damp areas and not to throw out fish tank or pond water incorrectly, as this could accidentally introduce the species and pests into the wild.

Areas which have already been hit by the problem of Invasive Aquatic Plants include the Glastry Clay Pits on the Ards Peninsula, the Belfast Waterworks and the Balloo Nature Reserve in Bangor.

For guidance on how to manage a wide range of Invasive Aquatic Plants and information on other species access the Invasive Species Ireland website.  Read the NIEA article here: NIEA

This story is also covered by Virgin Media and the Belfast Telegraph.  Read these stories in full here: Virgin Media, Belfast Telegraph.