Lara Clements, Rivers Officer at Groundwork South was delighted that the Floating Pennywort removal session she had organised went ahead this Bank Holiday weekend.

Lara said: “It was wet the whole day but we still managed a productive Saturday morning on 24th August removing the invasive floating pennywort. Great work done on the Grand Union Canal between Bourne End and Hemel Hempstead by Hemel Hempstead Canoe Club and the Colne Catchment River Rangers. Well done to everyone involved for keeping spirits up despite the wet weather and clearing all the rafts and fragments of pennywort at the top point of infestation in the catchment.”

This volunteer session was a victory for Lara’s tenacity. She has been trying to organise this session since the start of the year. Every month Lara has organised sessions here, only to have to cancel them at the last minute due to spilling from Berkhamstead sewage treatment works. Groundwork South had to cancel this session 4 times due to sewage, so this was the fifth time lucky!! It’s really discouraging to organise volunteers to give up their free time, when events are continuously cancelled. Meanwhile the Floating Pennywort profits and flourishes.

It was fortunate to find a window of opportunity for this event to go ahead. Lara would like to thank all the volunteers from Hemel Hempstead canoe club, the River Rangers and her Groundwork South colleague Jess Bampton for their patience when events have been cancelled and for turning out on a wet August Bank holiday.

Floating Pennywort was removed from the canal between Bourne End and Winkwell. Additionally, Canal and Rivers Trust have removed all major rafts along the length of the canal running into Hemel Hempstead at the top of the canal. The Canal and Rivers Trust will also running vegetation removal sessions along the canal from Rickmansworth downwards from October.

If you are interested in helping out next time, please sign up to volunteer with Groundwork South as a river ranger by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/RAEyahvE2LP2yqjr9

Reference: 

The rivers that are too full of sewage to clean up, 6th May 24, Lucie Heath, the i newspaper

Conservation of rivers thwarted by sewage spills. Delighted to have attention drawn to this serious issue for Lara Clements, rivers officer at GroundworkSouth who is struggling to keep on top of floating pennywort, whilst frequently having to cancel events due sewage spills.