News Release From The Eden Rivers Trust

The beautiful banks of the River Eamont between Ullswater and Penrith could be taken over by an alien invader if action is not taken immediately to tackle it, according to a new survey undertaken for Eden Rivers Trust.

A survey of Japanese knotweed was carried out in September on the banks of the Eamont, which flows out of Ullswater at Pooley Bridge and runs north east to join the River Eden near Penrith.  The extent of another introduced invasive plant, Himalayan balsam, was also assessed in the survey. 

These introduced plants are extremely harmful to our local river wildlife.  They spread rapidly, form dense monocultures and crowd out native plants.  Himalayan balsam dies back in winter, leaving bare river banks which are prone to erosion.  Japanese knotweed is present all year and can even grow through concrete and tarmac. 

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Japanese knotweedThe survey found that Japanese knotweed covers over 3,800 square metres of the banks of the River Eamont.  Himalayan balsam was found to be even more widespread, with plants present in large numbers along vast sections of the river.  Plants were often recorded on farm land and in some places have spread along small tributaries and ditches.

A meeting is taking place in Penrith on Wednesday 11 November between Eden Rivers Trust and Japanese Knotweed Solutions, the company who undertook the survey, to discuss the findings and consider the best way forward.   All work to eradicate these plants will need to be undertaken in accordance with the Environment Agency requirements.  A partnership approach, involving land owners and organisations with an interest in this problem, is likely to be appropriate.

Japanese knotweed is a large, woody plant which was introduced from Asia to Europe in the mid-nineteenth century as an ornamental plant.  It has bamboo-like stems and grows to a height of 2 – 3 metres.  It has clusters of creamy white flowers in summer and an underground root system – rhizomes – which can extend up to 7 metres from the parent plant.  Very small fragments of this rhizome can regenerate into new plants.  Once present, it spreads rapidly from its rhizome system and forms dense thickets which oust all other native plants.

Himalayan balsam was introduced into this country in 1839 from the Himalayas, also as an ornamental plant.  It is a relative of the Busy Lizzie and is known by a number of common names including policeman’s helmet and stinky-pops.  It is a tall, fleshy, annual plant, reaching up to 3 m, and produces clusters of purplish pink helmet-shaped flowers with a sickly sweet smell, hence its common names.

The initial cost of spraying Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam with herbicide, together with follow-up spraying, monitoring and aftercare, is likely to run in to many thousands of pounds. 

Simon Johnson, Director of Eden Rivers Trust, said, “Planned, early treatment of this invasive weed will mean considerable cost savings in the long term because if left unchecked the infested areas will grow considerably larger.  The wildlife and beauty of the River and potentially the wider Ullswater area would then be considerably reduced.”

The Lake District National Park and the National Trust have already been looking at this problem around Ullswater itself.  Eden Rivers Trust wants to work with these organisations, as well as the Environment Agency and local land owners, to take some coordinated action as soon as possible.

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