Tut tut, Titchmarsh

[Tursiops]

I watched Alan Titchmarsh's "How to be a Gardener" on Friday. The show was about creating a pond garden. As usual, his advice was generally sound, but I was dismayed that he advocated the introduction of Canadian Pondweed (Elodea canadensis) as an oxygenating plant.

Elodea is one of a number of non-native water plants that are proving to be highly invasive and ecologically damaging if they escape into natural watercourses.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/En...nessinScotland

Plantlife are campaigning to have these plants banned from sale.
http://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/plant...ve-plants.html

I think it is irresponsible of Titchmarsh and the BBC to promote their use in any way.

[Tornado]

Glad someone else noted the canadian pondweed. We tried very hard when creating our pond to introduce native species, but if, as you correctly say, Mr Titchmarsh and the BBC are promoting the use of this stuff, then soon there will be no room for the wildlife in peoples ponds, as it grows at an alarming rate and soon becomes like a carpet. Shame on them.





www.wildrossendale.co.uk

[Tiggrx]

The other thing that worries me is the number of aquatic plant nurseries which sell "native species" which are in fact invasive foreign species mislabelled or, even worse, correctly labelled and having no claim as a native species. I have seen lists of "native aquatics" of which over 50% are non-native species. The average gardener when trying to be ecologically friendly has a difficult task.

[Tursiops]

I've E-mailed the Beeb about it. Now awaiting something more than their Automated Response.

[nightshade]

Hi Tigrix,Can you name the true natives,for the benefit of people creating ponds,I do not think anything in my pond is a native (except when the lioness fell in!) and I will go around to the local suppliers and berate them, thanks

[Tiggrx]

There are large numbers of native aquatics which are suitable for garden ponds. Here is a selection of attractive natives which are frequently available:

Frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae)
Fringed Waterlily (Nymphoides peltata)
White Waterlily(Nymphaea alba) - for large ponds
Yellow Waterlily (Nuphar lutea) - for large ponds
Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
Water Violet (Hottonia palustris)
Water-crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis)
Whorled Water-milfoil (Myriophyllum verticillatum)
Spiked Water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Water Forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides)
Mare's-tail (Hippuris vulgaris)
Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus)
Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia)
Water-plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica)
Water-soldier (Stratiotes aloides)
Broad-leaved Pondweed (Potamogeton natans)
Curled Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)
Cyperus Sedge (Carex pseudocyperus)
Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus)
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

some alien species I've seen sold as natives include:
Monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus)
Blood-drop-emlets (Mimulus luteus)
Large-flowered Waterweed (Egeria densa)
Bog Arum (Calla palustris)

If you really want to be ecologically sound you should restrict yourself to those species local to your area, especially if the pond is not in a garden. Just because a species in native to Britain it does not necessarily mean it is native in your area of the country.

Hope this is of help.

[Varan Komodosky]

Believe it or not, I've actually seen Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes on sale in a garden centre. I have no clue if it would survive a British winter though.

[Gill Catton]

Horn wort would do as good a job as any canadian pondweed, I use it in my fish tanks to out compete the algae and when I do my newt surveys, hornwort always seems to be packed full of life - particularly good at harbouring the tiniest of larvae. I took a small piece to identify from a small lake swamped with the stuff (soft hornwort is nationally scarce) and kept it in water and out of it came six baby greater water-boatmen (I think!) two tiny baby damsels three fly larvae of some description and some kind of daphnia - and this was like a three inch section!

[shirls]

Nice little icon of Kocopeli- not seen him in that pose before...

[shirls]

Nice little photo of Kocopeli - not seen him in that pose before..