Volunteers combat pond invaders
On a cold, autumnal day, conservation volunteers from
the Kentish Stour Countryside Project braved icy water to remove invasive
reeds from a pond within the Bowen’s Field Wetland Park, part of the
Ashford Green Corridor Local Nature Reserve. The reeds were beginning to
dominate and have a detrimental effect on the wildlife value of the pond
by outcompeting and shading emerging plants, upon which so much wildlife
depends. Therefore staff from the Kentish Stour Countryside Project, based
in Wye, decided that it was time to literally jump in and fight back
against these invaders.
Over the course of 6 hours, the volunteers waded into
the pond and pulled out as much of the reed as was possible before raking
the debris up onto the bank. Craig Edwards, Assistant Project Officer at
the Kentish Stour Countryside Project said " I’m impressed with the
hard work and dedication of these volunteers to make such a huge
difference to the wildlife of this pond in very inhospitable
conditions".
If you would like to get involved or for
more information please contact us.
