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Invasive Species Eradication - Pennywort

Pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) Floating Pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) although an attractive foliage plant is highly invasive and requires a controlled methodical schedule of eradication.

The issues created by the plants growth structure of creating a raft are inclusive of:-
- density of the raft reduces light levels causing water weeds and algae to die off leading to a reduction in water oxygenation levels threatening fish, tadpoles and snails.
- loss of accessible open water at the margins create difficulties for wildlife
- out competes native plant species and affects their growth ability.
- can become large enough to create a reduction in flow, or a water block to the body of water increasing rhe risk of flooding.
- strongly invaded waters can lose their attractiveness and safety for recreation.

Spread can be caused by human activity, natural spread by downstream floods and over large distances by seeded sediments stuck to feet or water birds. 

Good eradication is carried out by repeated applications with particular care given to collection and controlled disposal as these are paramount factors.  Treatment is at the end of the growing season assisted by herbicides for extensive die back of vegetation.

HFN are able to tackle this both from the land and the water.  Using a flat bottom boat with engine and extensive spraying equipment with fully trained operatives, HFN can manoeuvre up or down stream reaching the pennywort across its full width and length.  Surveys and monitoring are carried out to ensure that original schedule is working and revision to this is carried out if required 
 

 

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