British Canoeing is committed to protecting the environment, particularly when it comes to tackling Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS).
Volunteers have been battling to rid our waters of the invasive floating pennywort
Plants and animals that did not originate in the UK can cause serious environmental problems and cost our economy about £1.7bn each year.
Five simple things you can do to help
We have been working with our partners and brilliant volunteers to control, monitor and remove, where possible, harmful species which have been introduced to our waterways.
Invasive Species Week, a national event to raise awareness of the impacts of these species, is taking place from 16-22 May, 2022.
British Canoeing and its partners have organised the Big Floating Pennywort Removal Day at the River Wey Navigation, Surrey, on 21 May, as part of the week.
If you can take part, please complete this form by 18 May.
What are INNS and what impact do they have?
“Floating pennywort is a killer plant species and has the potential of covering sections of canal or whole lakes,” said Richard Atkinson, British Canoeing’s Waterways and Environment Policy Officer.
“It prevents light getting into the water as well as de-oxygenating it, resulting in killing anything living below its thick leafy mat below, including fish and our precious native plants.”
British Canoeing has been supporting work to remove these plants, which were introduced to the UK in the 1980s to grow in ponds.
Work has been undertaken by volunteers at the River Wey Navigation, River Mole and River Lee Navigation.
Ben Francis, British Canoeing’s environmental project officer, has been reporting on what has been happening in the Thames region.
Volunteers have been working hard to clear non-native species
Find out how paddlers can help beat invasive non-native species here.