Invasive Species Protection

These are a variety of sessions, with a focus on invasive species around our local area. It can be observation, conservation or removal. We will aim to do something different each month and theme the sessions appropriate to the time of year. Ultimately we hope in the long term we will improve the flora and fawna in our local area.

 🌱 11th July – Pennywort Focus Session

This session is dedicated to tackling pennywort, an invasive aquatic plant that can take over rivers, ponds, and wetlands. Floating pennywort grows rapidly across the water’s surface, forming dense mats that block sunlight, reduce oxygen levels, and harm fish and other wildlife. It can also restrict water flow, increasing flood risk. We’ll explore how to identify pennywort, why it poses such a threat to our ecosystems, and discuss how it can be managed both on land and in water. Depending on conditions, this session may involve working along the banks or directly near the water. We may also be paddling along the river and removing any pennywort found.

15th August - Pennywort and Litter Collection

We will be running a Canoe Litter Pick, which you can book on to clicking here. This canoe litter pick will be dedicated to Belgrave Lock where we'll be paddling straight up to the area and finding some hot spots where a lot of litter has gathered up.

Alternatively book online here for the Pennywort collection, which will be heading downstream from the centre.

Today the session will be from 10:00am to 12:00noon, and then the Canal and Rivers Trust will be supporting us with refreshments in our Riverside Room.

12th September - Forensic Patrol for INNS

Join Amy for a hunt to find pennywort canoeing along the River Soar, and remove this non-native invasive spices.