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Select from the menu below to discover more about
leaflets, events and Sunderland's wildlife.
Wicked Weeds
| A weed invasion
crisis in some parts of the UK is now taking root in the North East. And it's our wetland habitats - ponds, streams and marshland - that are
most vulnerable.
Crassula helmsii - an invader from
the antipedes - is taking over our ponds. This water-loving weed is
also known as Tillaea recurva, New Zealand pigmyweed or Australian
swamp stonecrop. When it gets a hold there is no stopping it. It chokes the life out of ponds, lakes, marshes and any waterside
vegetation.
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Crassula
helmsii |
Other water weeds to look out for:
| Water
fern - Azolla filiculoides
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Minute
duckweed - Lemna minuta
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| Parrot's feather
- Myriophyllum aquaticum |
Canadian pondweed
- Elodea canadensis |
| Floating penny wort
- Hydrocotyle
ranunculoides |
Please help prevent their spread:
- Do not tip unwanted aquaria water and plants into ponds or streams
- Do not buy or acquire these plants for use in ponds and gardens
- If you see Crassula or any of the plants featured here report them
immediately
Beware!
The trifid of the bunch is giant hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum.
Giant hogweed inhabits riverbanks and wet ground. It can cause a serious
allergic reaction if it comes into contact with your skin! So do not touch
or attempt any form of physical contact with this plant.
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Your Countryside Team have set up a giant hogweed control programme for the
City. This will focus on problem areas such as the River Wear and Ryhope/Tunstall.
A programme of herbicide treatment will tie in to a similar initiative on the
Wear in County Durham.
Japanese knotweed, Fallopia japonica (formerly Reynoutria japonica)
is another highly invasive plant. Although common along waterways it will grow
just about anywhere. Like Crassula, one small fragment of this plant can
grow into an unstoppable stand. So please do not cultivate this species and take
great care when disposing of it or the soil in which it grows.
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| Giant hogweed |
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Other noxious weeds include creeping
thistle, spear thistle, ragwort
and Himalayan balsam. Please note it is an
offence to knowingly allow
or encourage the spread of these species.
For more information on these and other weed species or to report
sightings, please contact your Countryside Team on (0191) 553 1555
or the
Environment Agency on (0191) 203 4000, or try www.invasiveweeds.co.uk
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Himalayan balsam
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