Pennywort leads record rise in aquatic invaders

Reports of floating pennywort, the invasive plant, in rivers and lakes have reached a record high, officials have warned. In the River Thames alone, some 50 tons of the invasive aquatic plant had to be removed in 2017.

Defra, during its invasive species week, is flagging up the problem of fast-growing plants such as floating pennywort which can spread into the wild when taken out of garden ponds.

Experts say it forms dense mattresses of weed that the sun’s rays cannot penetrate, depriving other plants of light and oxygen. That has a knock-on effect on insects, fish and all the creatures that feed on them.