Gardeners beware...Be Plant Wise

It's that time of the year again when the frost has halted and it's time to get those gardens and ponds sorted out....but are you Being Plant Wise???

Certain plants can take over our gardens and ponds. They can also become established in the wild, where they can smother our native plants, clog our waterways, worsen flooding and remove oxygen from the water, which can harm fish.

By doing something very simple, such as composting excess plants carefully, we can all help the environment and reduce costs.

To Be Plant Wise just follow these easy steps to ensure Invasive Non Native Plants don't spread into the surrounding countryside:

Be plant wise to the threat of invasive plants, which can take over your pond or garden and damage the environment.

Be careful if you move pond plants around – even tiny fragments can cause massive problems. Take care when maintaining your pond or disposing of waste water.

Don’t dump plants in the wild - you could be breaking the law. Always dispose of old plants and pond material responsibly, by composting or using a green waste bin.

For further information on INNS causing problems in Highland download the Cromarty Firth Fishery Trusts Invasive Species Information Pack for gardeners through the following link:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29384831/gardener%20awareness%20raising%20info%20pack.pdf

and visit the Be Plant Wise website:

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/beplantwise/