Crackdown on Pygmy-weed at popular Bloxwich pool
Date Published : 24 August 2010
Walsall's Countryside services are tackling an invasive weed which is threatening wildlife at a popular pool in Bloxwich.
The site in Wallington Heath Pool in Stafford Road has become infested with non-native and highly invasive New Zealand Pygmy-weed (Crassula helmsii) also known as Australian Swamp Stonecrop.
This small aquatic plant with white flowers grows on the muddy margins of ponds and forms a carpet of leaves across the water. At Wallington Heath, nearby residents have complained the invasive plant is spreading rapidly across the pool and is smothering other native water plants.
Members of the community have spent countless hours on improving the area but despite their best efforts, the weed has continued to spread.
Countryside services are now set to take drastic action and, in line with consent from the Environment Agency, will begin spraying Glyphosate on the pool next week, Monday 23 August 2010.
Glysophate is the only chemical licensed for such work but will only kill the stems and leaves of weed which is growing on the surface of the water. The pool will therefore be covered with black plastic for six months to suffocate the plant that is growing beneath the water.
Cabinet member for leisure, culture and environment, Councillor Anthony Harris said: "Apparently, it's very hard to kill off. Cutting and removing the weed is not advised as the stems break into pieces and each tiny bit can grow again very quickly.
"The only effective way to manage the plant is to spray with Glysophate and then apply a black covering to smother it. Obviously, this will make the pool unsightly potentially for the rest of this year. However, it should eliminate the Pygmy-weed and ultimately produce a far more attractive pool and satisfy the complaints regarding the weed."
Countryside Services will monitor the situation and remove trial areas of plastic to see whether any Pygmy-weed remains.
Kevin Clements, Walsall's countryside manager added: "Once we are satisfied that none survives, we will remove the plastic and arrange community planting sessions next spring to restock the pool with more appropriate species."
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