Episode details

Hereford & Worcester,2 mins
Fears invasive plant 'can run Worcester canal dry'
Available for over a year
Pennywort is an invasive species similar to Japanese Knotweed, and has been sighted in the Worcester-Birmingham Canal, and River Severn. Green Councillor Karen Lewing is on a mission to highlight the problems this plant poses, which can grow up to 20cm per day, and campaign for more funding for the Canal & River Trust. Matt Hutchinson reports. In a statement, the Department for Enviornment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "Since the Trust was first created in 2012, we've been very clear it would have to increasingly move towards alternative sources of funding. to date, we've awarded them five-hundred-and-fifty million pounds, and are supporting them with a further five-hundred-and-ninety million pounds between now and 2037."
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