2024-25 Tales from an East Anglian Riverbank - Portfolio - Page 10
BEDFORD OUSE FLOATING PENNYWORT
HALTING
THE INVASION
Working with:
Anglian Water Services
EA Lead:
Pippa Keynes
Floa琀椀ng Pennywort, 昀椀rst recorded on the Bedford
Ouse in 2015, spread rapidly downstream, reaching
as far as St Ives by 2021. This project, part of the
Great Ouse Floa琀椀ng Pennywort Updated Strategy
2024, aims to prevent WFD deteriora琀椀on and
protect the Ouse Washes wetland. Floa琀椀ng
Pennywort spreads from 琀椀ny fragments, forming
dense ravs that block watercourses, increase nood
risk, damage equipment, and hinder recrea琀椀on. It
also shades out na琀椀ve plants, alters habitats, and
poses safety risks for people and livestock.
Control began in 2016/17 with 100 tonnes
removed mechanically; ongoing annual e昀昀orts have
reduced this to hand-picking small mats. In 2024,
Floa琀椀ng Pennywort was absent from the main river
for the 昀椀rst 琀椀me.
£32,000
Total Project Value
Brampton Mill Channel—showing Floa琀椀ng Pennywort before clearance
Credit: FBG team, Environment Agency
Outputs:
35km of river surveyed with no Floa琀椀ng
Pennywort found in 2024
Outcomes:
£27,000
EA Funding
£5,000
Partnership Funding
Increased biodiversity
Protec琀椀on of Ouse Washes SSSI/SAC/SPA
Protec琀椀on of naviga琀椀on, angling, and nood
defences
For more info, read Pippa9s blog here.
Brampton Mill Channel—showing river aver clearance of Floa琀椀ng Pennywort
Credit: FBG team, Environment Agency
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