Queen's Park Lake duckweed clearance under way

South Swindon Parish Council has begun an ambitious project to address the persistent duckweed problem affecting Queen's Park Lake.

Initial work has been carried out, with the lake being sectioned off and crews removing litter and debris from the edges. The next phase of the operation will involve specialised equipment which will be deployed to pump out and remove as much duckweed as possible.

Last year the council took samples from the lakes and identified two species of duckweed, Lemna minor and Lemna Minuta. 

Lemna Minor is a common type of duckweed and is widespread across the UK, while Lemna Minuta is a non-native, highly invasive species. The presence of this non-native species adds to the duckweed problem as it reproduces especially rapidly.

Cllr Neil Hopkins, Chair of South Swindon Parish Council, said: “This intervention at Queen’s Park builds on our commitment to enhancing our parks and green spaces, as demonstrated by last year's successful pond restoration in front of the hothouse. 

"Further treatments will continue for several years to address the issues and will be carefully monitored by council officers. Residents can support our efforts by not feeding bread to wildfowl, as this practice increases the nutrients in the lake, which creates the ideal environment for excessive duckweed growth.”

In addition to the sample surveys, South Swindon Parish Council cleared the duckweed from the smaller pond in front of the hothouse site and has initiated an ongoing maintenance plan which has been successful in stopping excessive growth of new duckweed. 

The council acknowledges that the current proliferation of duckweed stems from decades of accumulated silt, improper feeding practices and vegetation decay that have contributed to unnaturally high nutrient levels in the water. These conditions, combined with duckweed's naturally aggressive growth pattern, create a persistent challenge.

Looking ahead, the parish council is exploring comprehensive long-term solutions, including:

- Specialist water treatment options to correct water quality issues

- Introduction of new marginal planting resistant to wildfowl feeding

- Public education initiatives about proper wildlife feeding practices

New signage is being installed around the lake to advise visitors about healthier alternatives to bread, which contributes to water quality degradation when uneaten portions decompose in the water.

For more information and advice about feeding ducks and wildfowl, the Canal & River Trust has advice here.