Volunteers who are trying to protect and preserve the historic Newport canal have appealed for people to join a work party to tackle a plant infestation that is threatening to take over the waterway.
The Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust is organising a day-long event on July 11 to attack the invasive non native Himalayan Balsam plant. If left unchecked, it could wipe out all the native plants that have led to the area being designated as Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Volunteer John Myers said the Trust needs to remove as much of the Himalayan Balsam as possible over the next few years to eradicate it from the area.
“Himalayan Balsam is very invasive and smothers other plants. It is the tallest annual plant in the UK, growing to a height of over three metres, and while it is pretty and colourful, it crowds out native plants and can take over whole areas of rivers and canal banks.
“The stretch of the Newport Canal that is in water has become infested with Himalayan Balsam and, if it is left to take over, will wipe out the native plants that have helped to make this a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
“The plant pulls out very easily. We had our first work party last year to tackle the plant and managed to clear the canal to the east of Town Bridge. We will not have got it all, but hopefully there should be less this year, so we will be able to move on to Strine Park, hoping to get both the Strine brook and canal to the east of Town bridge clear.
“Then we can progress downstream to the west. I am told that if we can blitz an area for three or four consecutive years, we can eliminate it.”
The trust is appealing for as many people as possible to join the work party on July 11 and meet at the Black Shed car park off Water Lane, opposite Cosy Hall, in Newport, at 10am.
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