Alien alert in the pond!
Technically, the pond on the allotment is an old bath with the plughole sealed shut, but it works for me and the frogs seem to love it! I must clear the fallen leaves, plant debris and problematic plants from the water, specifically newly-classified ‘invasive alien species’.
Carolina fanwort ( Cabomba caroliniana) is a plant I was given by a friend from their aquarium. It’s now becoming a pest, as the ferny foliage can grow from a tiny piece of stalk into causing major problems in the waterways. I’ll be removing it all and disposing of it so it can’t spread further afield.
Other problem plants include water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes) which was sold in garden centres until recently. This species can’t normally survive frost.
If you’re unsure whether your pond plants are affected, please visit www.ec.europa.eu/environment/nature for a list of all invasive alien species.