First recorded in the UK in 1990, floating pennywort (also known as just ‘pennywort’) was originally introduced as an ornamental plant for garden ponds. It has the ability to grow from even the smallest fragments, which enabled it to enter canals and rivers after being transported or discarded.

Floating pennywort is so damaging to native flora and fauna that it is listed under Schedule 9 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, meaning it is illegal to cause it to grow in the wild. Since 2014, it has also been banned from sale in the UK.

Pennywort can cause major problems with river health, as it can grow rapidly (up to 20cm per day) and choke off oxygen for fish and plantlike alike. This is in addition to making rivers difficult to navigate as they can in effect become narrower over night.

LBC have been doing our bit by sending out regular ‘Pennywort Patrols’ to try and pull out the invasive weed before it gets too established in our section of teh river Soar between Zouch and Kegworth. It’s an ongoing battle, but with multiple club members helping out, we hope we can make a difference and keep the pesky pennywort at bay!