Latest news with #EnvironmentalAgency
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Yahoo
Plea to stop fishing after black swans eat line
A local council has pleaded for people not to fish at a river in a Devon town after incidents of swans ingesting fishing lines. Dawlish Town Council has urged the public to stop fishing in the town's water stream following two separate incidents in the space of 24 hours of black swans attempting to eat fishing lines. It said its waterfowl wardens had made two rescues between Tuesday and Wednesday. It confirmed both swans were now safe and well but warned another incident like it could be fatal. More news stories for Devon Listen to the latest news for Devon The council said fishing was not allowed in the river, unless you have a special licence from Devon County Council, and was raising awareness to prevent such incidents. One of the swans had tried to eat a fishing line with a hook that had a fish attached to it before a warden was able to help. The local authority asked residents to report if they saw people fishing in the river to the waterfowl wardens, the police or the Environmental Agency and to be mindful of any fishing lines near the river. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ More on this story Dawlish black swan sitting on eggs killed by dog Sadness as 'shabby' brook blights town's look Black swans' bird flu deaths 'devastating' Related internet links Dawlish Town Council
BBC News
18-07-2025
- BBC News
Plea to stop fishing in Dawlish river after black swans eat line
A local council has pleaded for people not to fish at a river in a Devon town after incidents of swans ingesting fishing lines. Dawlish Town Council has urged the public to stop fishing in the town's water stream following two separate incidents in the space of 24 hours of black swans attempting to eat fishing lines. It said its waterfowl wardens had made two rescues between Tuesday and Wednesday. It confirmed both swans were now safe and well but warned another incident like it could be fatal. The council said fishing was not allowed in the river, unless you have a special licence from Devon County Council, and was raising awareness to prevent such incidents. One of the swans had tried to eat a fishing line with a hook that had a fish attached to it before a warden was able to help. The local authority asked residents to report if they saw people fishing in the river to the waterfowl wardens, the police or the Environmental Agency and to be mindful of any fishing lines near the river.
Glasgow Times
23-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
How to prevent and report Japanese knotweed amid fly-tipping
Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste on public or private land – and its on the rise across the UK with more than one million incidents reported over the last two years. Now, experts are warning of another element that could add to the issue blighting areas. Fly-tipping often involves rubble, soil and plant cuttings which is then dumped and left to rot. If Japanese Knotweed is either fly-tipped or unknowingly part of dumped soil within the waste – then there's a problem. 'Fly-tipping and Japanese knotweed is a big problem in the UK,' reports. 'Because it leads to the spread of this invasive species. 'If plant material is present in the fly-tipped waste, it can quickly establish itself in the new location, creating a new infestation. 'Japanese knotweed is an extremely resilient plant. Furthermore, it can grow in a wide range of soil types and conditions. 'It spreads by producing new shoots from its wide root system, which can extend up to 7m from the main stem. 'This means that if Japanese knotweed is brought to a new area, it can quickly colonize the entire site, out-competing native vegetation and causing some environmental damage.' The fly-tipping of Japanese knotweed can also occur when commercial site owners are unwilling to pay for the treatment of knotweed on their land. By excavating and fly tipping the contaminated area, they promote the spread of knotweed root fragments and rhizomes which regrow after lying dormant for 20 years. Just last month, the invasive plant was said to be in "super growth" across the UK due to the dry and warmer conditions. Craig Godbehere, a site supervisor and certified surveyor in Japanese Knotweed at Thomson Environmental Consultants, said: 'Japanese knotweed has now become widespread in a range of habitats, particularly roadsides, riverbanks and derelict land, where it can cause serious problems by displacing native flora and with the potential to cause structural damage. 'It spreads rapidly in the wild by natural means or as a result of human activity.' How to remove Japanese knotweed Japanese knotweed, which was introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant in the nineteenth century, can only be removed with costly specialist treatment. It requires a multi-pronged approach, often involving herbicides and potentially excavation, depending on the extent of the infestation. Professional advice and support is required. Recommended reading: How do I report Japanese knotweed fly-tipping? If you suspect the act of fly-tipping of Japanese knotweed you should contact the Environmental Agency by email (enquiries@ or via their 24-hour freephone number (0800 80 70 60). It is a criminal offence to fly tip any material containing Japanese knotweed, and doing so is punishable with up to two years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
South Wales Argus
23-06-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
How to prevent and report Japanese knotweed amid fly-tipping
Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste on public or private land – and its on the rise across the UK with more than one million incidents reported over the last two years. Now, experts are warning of another element that could add to the issue blighting areas. Fly-tipping often involves rubble, soil and plant cuttings which is then dumped and left to rot. If Japanese Knotweed is either fly-tipped or unknowingly part of dumped soil within the waste – then there's a problem. 'Fly-tipping and Japanese knotweed is a big problem in the UK,' reports. 'Because it leads to the spread of this invasive species. 'If plant material is present in the fly-tipped waste, it can quickly establish itself in the new location, creating a new infestation. 'Japanese knotweed is an extremely resilient plant. Furthermore, it can grow in a wide range of soil types and conditions. 'It spreads by producing new shoots from its wide root system, which can extend up to 7m from the main stem. 'This means that if Japanese knotweed is brought to a new area, it can quickly colonize the entire site, out-competing native vegetation and causing some environmental damage.' The fly-tipping of Japanese knotweed can also occur when commercial site owners are unwilling to pay for the treatment of knotweed on their land. By excavating and fly tipping the contaminated area, they promote the spread of knotweed root fragments and rhizomes which regrow after lying dormant for 20 years. Just last month, the invasive plant was said to be in "super growth" across the UK due to the dry and warmer conditions. Craig Godbehere, a site supervisor and certified surveyor in Japanese Knotweed at Thomson Environmental Consultants, said: 'Japanese knotweed has now become widespread in a range of habitats, particularly roadsides, riverbanks and derelict land, where it can cause serious problems by displacing native flora and with the potential to cause structural damage. 'It spreads rapidly in the wild by natural means or as a result of human activity.' How to remove Japanese knotweed Japanese knotweed, which was introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant in the nineteenth century, can only be removed with costly specialist treatment. It requires a multi-pronged approach, often involving herbicides and potentially excavation, depending on the extent of the infestation. Professional advice and support is required. Recommended reading: How do I report Japanese knotweed fly-tipping? If you suspect the act of fly-tipping of Japanese knotweed you should contact the Environmental Agency by email (enquiries@ or via their 24-hour freephone number (0800 80 70 60). It is a criminal offence to fly tip any material containing Japanese knotweed, and doing so is punishable with up to two years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
North Wales Chronicle
22-06-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
How to prevent and report Japanese knotweed amid fly-tipping
Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste on public or private land – and its on the rise across the UK with more than one million incidents reported over the last two years. Now, experts are warning of another element that could add to the issue blighting areas. Fly-tipping often involves rubble, soil and plant cuttings which is then dumped and left to rot. If Japanese Knotweed is either fly-tipped or unknowingly part of dumped soil within the waste – then there's a problem. 'Fly-tipping and Japanese knotweed is a big problem in the UK,' reports. 'Because it leads to the spread of this invasive species. 'If plant material is present in the fly-tipped waste, it can quickly establish itself in the new location, creating a new infestation. 'Japanese knotweed is an extremely resilient plant. Furthermore, it can grow in a wide range of soil types and conditions. 'It spreads by producing new shoots from its wide root system, which can extend up to 7m from the main stem. 'This means that if Japanese knotweed is brought to a new area, it can quickly colonize the entire site, out-competing native vegetation and causing some environmental damage.' The fly-tipping of Japanese knotweed can also occur when commercial site owners are unwilling to pay for the treatment of knotweed on their land. By excavating and fly tipping the contaminated area, they promote the spread of knotweed root fragments and rhizomes which regrow after lying dormant for 20 years. Just last month, the invasive plant was said to be in "super growth" across the UK due to the dry and warmer conditions. Craig Godbehere, a site supervisor and certified surveyor in Japanese Knotweed at Thomson Environmental Consultants, said: 'Japanese knotweed has now become widespread in a range of habitats, particularly roadsides, riverbanks and derelict land, where it can cause serious problems by displacing native flora and with the potential to cause structural damage. 'It spreads rapidly in the wild by natural means or as a result of human activity.' Japanese knotweed, which was introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant in the nineteenth century, can only be removed with costly specialist treatment. It requires a multi-pronged approach, often involving herbicides and potentially excavation, depending on the extent of the infestation. Professional advice and support is required. Recommended reading: Japanese knotweed in 'super growth' across UK expert warns Is Himalayan balsam illegal in the UK? What a fine could be What to do if you see Himalayan balsam? Advice for gardeners If you suspect the act of fly-tipping of Japanese knotweed you should contact the Environmental Agency by email (enquiries@ or via their 24-hour freephone number (0800 80 70 60). It is a criminal offence to fly tip any material containing Japanese knotweed, and doing so is punishable with up to two years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
