Stinky 'skunk' plant cleared from river

An invasive plant said to smell like "rotting meat" has been cleared from a Buckinghamshire river.

More than 2.5km (1.6 miles) of the River Alderbourne has been treated for American skunk cabbage, which is native to swamps and other wetlands in the Pacific Northwest.

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine has described the plant as having a smell that resembles "rotting meat".

Environmental charity Groundwork South received £9,900 from Affinity Water's INNS Out Scheme to carry out the work.

The team surveyed and treated several locations, including a site at Harding's Row Nature Reserve near Iver Heath.

Surveys conducted after the work showed "promising early results", according to the charity.

Matt Mountain, senior project manager at Groundwork, said: "The support from Affinity has been crucial in allowing us to tackle this relatively new invasive species before it reaches a stage where eradication becomes impractical.

"It's a real win for local and regional wildlife and the wider ecosystem. This is especially true here in the Colne catchment as the rivers under threat are globally significant chalk streams."

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