Towpath Talk

Importance of weed clearance

-

While my days are very long, there are multiple reasons behind why the duckweed needs to be cleared. Overgrown patches can feature weed up to a foot thick, so even pushing a boat through it is almost impossible.

Canal boat engines are also often cooled using a filter and the water itself. Duckweed clogs this filter, which can lead to expensive mechanical problems.

Then there’s the environmen­tal threat – in large quantities, weeds can deoxygenat­e water, endangerin­g marine life and biodiversi­ty in the water. More visibly, large volumes of rubbish can get stuck in duckweed blooms, blocking it.

As such, it’s vital we keep on top of this nuisance until late September, when the temperatur­es begin to drop and weed growth slows down. Then everything stops from a duckweed perspectiv­e – you generally won’t see any in the winter because it’s too cold, and then the cycle begins again in March. area rely on the canal for their summer trade, so they’ve been really friendly and appreciati­ve of our work.

We’ve also received nothing but praise from the boating community, which is massively appreciate­d, and I think the general public, even those not using the canals, know the problem weeds can cause if left untended.

This definitely serves as good motivation during those long working days, and lets us know we’re making a difference.

Honestly, despite the long hours, it’s a wonderful way to spend the summer. We get to see the friendly faces of those using the canals every day, and keep our treasured waterways clear and healthy as a result.

For more informatio­n on weed clearance, please visit: https:// www.therotheng­roup.co.uk/

 ?? PHOTOS: ROTHEN GROUP ?? A self-propelled reed and weed harvester which can not only cut and self load but also has a storage hold.
PHOTOS: ROTHEN GROUP A self-propelled reed and weed harvester which can not only cut and self load but also has a storage hold.
 ??  ?? The weed is deposited into an open hold on the boat.
The weed is deposited into an open hold on the boat.
 ??  ?? A large conveyor belt is hydraulica­lly lowered into the water to collect the weed.
A large conveyor belt is hydraulica­lly lowered into the water to collect the weed.
 ??  ?? Tackling a carpet of weed across the canal.
Tackling a carpet of weed across the canal.
 ??  ?? The belt is reversed to offload the contents into the hold of a larger ‘hopper’ – a boat designed to carry materials.
The belt is reversed to offload the contents into the hold of a larger ‘hopper’ – a boat designed to carry materials.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom