Be Plant Wise
Invasive aquatic plants can damage our ponds, waterways and the environment.
Be plant wise and don’t dump aquatic plants in the wild.
Ponds can create a wonderful feature to be enjoyed all year round and are often a haven for wildlife. However, if they are not cared for properly some pond plants can take over your pond. They can also become established in the wild, where they can smother our native plants, clog our waterways, exacerbate flooding and remove oxygen from the water, which can harm fish.
Pond owners, gardeners, aquarists, anglers and other water users can unknowingly assist the spread of aquatic plants into our countryside. These plants can rapidly become major environmental problems with expensive associated costs.
The key messages in the campaign are:
Whether you are a pond owner or a retailer of aquatic plants, by following the three simple steps above you can become Plant Wise and help to reduce the risks of invasive aquatic plants being released into our environment.
The following resources offer advice for gardeners and pond owners.
These pages contain the detailed information you need to Be Plant Wise:
- Campaign video: Watch the Be Plant Wise video presented by Charlie Dimmock.
- Guidance for retailers: Access more information on how you can promote the Be Plant Wise Campaign
- Guidance for gardeners/pond owners: Access more information on how you can look after your pond in a manner that will prevent invasive species getting into the environment.
- Download the Be Plant Wise information leaflet and find out more about how you can help stop the spread of invasive plants.
View species profiles
View species profiles of some of the most invasive plants originally brought into Ireland for our gardens and ponds. Many of these species have spread naturally to the wild from where they were planted. Sometimes their presence in the wild is due to accidental spread or dumping. Report sightings of invasive species: records.biodiversityireland.ie/record/invasives
Click on image to access species profile information.
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