Herald - Issue 406

13th May 2021 • The HERALD • Page 51 v THE HERALD IS PUBLISHED EVERY 3 WEEKS v RYAN FENCING Quality Fencing & Gates 07769 706516 • 023 8084 1203 www.ryan-fencing.co.uk • Find us on Facebook SPADEWORK Family Landscaping & Fencing Team ] Decking & Natural Sandstone Paving ] Patios ] Driveways ] Block Paving ] Turfing ] All Types of Domestic & Commercial Fencing ] Security Fencing Supplied & Fitted Tel: (023) 8089 4909 Mobile: 07703 566814 u F ree E stimates u F ully I nsured | DOWN THE GARDEN PATH | Be ‘Plant Wise’ During Invasive Species Week of attractive pond plants which are unlikely to become invasive. If you already have invasive non-native plants in your pond or garden, it is very important to dispose of them r e s p o n s i b l y . e majority of plants can be composted or taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre or disposed of through your local authority garden waste c o l l e c t i o n s c h e m e . However, be aware that some plants such as Japanese Knotweed are ‘controlled waste’ and subject to legislation so must be disposed of appropriately. Japanese Knotweed and Montbretia have become established in the wild as a result of people dumping surplus garden plants. Other plants have become invasive a er being deliberately planted in the countryside. Plastic planting baskets have been found in New Forest ponds infested with Parrot’s Feather and New Zealand Pygmyweed. New Forest Non-Native Plants O cer Catherine Chatters says: “Be Plant Wise - know what you grow, compost with care and stop the spread”. To find out more about Invasive Species Week, the Be Plant Wise campaign and how you can help stop the spread of invasive non-native plants please visit: www.nonnativespecies.org Invasive Species Week starts on Monday 24th May 2021 to raise awareness about invasive non-native species and the simple things people can do to prevent their spread. Invasive non-native species can harm the environment, are costly to the economy and can even pose a risk to human health. For example, Japanese Knotweed can cause structural damage to buildings and Giant Hogweed contains a toxic sap which causes painful, burning blisters. Both these plants and many others such as Himalayan Balsam also threaten our native wildlife. e New Forest Non-Native Plants Project, hosted by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, is helping to highlight the problems caused by invasive non-native plants. Project O cers Catherine Chatters and Jo Gore are keen for people to play their part in helping to stop the spread of these plants, wherever they live. Many invasive non-invasive plants were originally introduced to the UK as ornamental garden plants but have ‘jumped the garden fence’ and invaded the countryside, threatening to out- compete our native vegetation so, if you have a garden, it’s really important to choose your plants carefully and select plants which are unlikely to become invasive. Many invasive non-native plants have now been banned from sale. For example, it is now illegal to sell American Skunk Cabbage. is species which originates from North America has been planted in bog gardens but has invaded e c o l o g i c a l l y important wet w o o d l a n d s in the New Forest area. It has large leaves which block out the light and can become d o m i n a n t , outcompeting the woodland ora. If you are thinking of creating a pond in your garden to bene t wildlife, be careful when deciding what to put in it as many non-native aquatic plants can become invasive. ey can form dense mats of vegetation, blocking out light and preventing growth of submerged native plants, causing detrimental impacts on invertebrates and sh. Aquatic non-native plants such as Parrot’s Feather, Water Fern, New Zealand Pygmyweed, Creeping Water Primrose, Floating Pennywort and many others have been banned from sale but you can buy plenty GARDENS TO VISIT Garden lovers of all ages will nd the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) ‘Garden Visitor’s Handbook 2021 (popularly known as e Yellow Book) invaluable when planning days out to take a peek behind other people’s garden gates. All over the country, thousands of private gardens are opened to the public on speci ed dates as part of the NGS scheme to raise funds for various nursing, caring and gardening charities it helps support. e so-called ‘bible’ of garden visiting and the key to secret gardens of England and Wales gives details of all the gardens taking part, together with location, a brief description of the garden, and dates when you can visit. e publication can be purchased for £13.99 online at: www.ngs.org.uk