Barrow nature haven eco system threatened by pondweed

Rachel Wilson, of Friends of Ormsgill Reservoir, said she faced one of her 'toughest times in rescue' following the discovery of three separate wildfowl deaths in one day.

These included a greylag goose, a young gull and a cygnet which had become wrapped in fishing line. 

READ MORE: Furness Coastguard called out to report of children cut off by tide

In order to reach the family of swans, Rachel had to take out a non-motorised boat. She wrote in her wildlife report: "Concerningly, all the way along, I could hear the pondweed scraping all the bottom of the boat all the way across the reservoir.

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"When I had already dealt with the line on the animals, I must have picked some up on my paddle as well and found another half reel's worth of line with weight and hook attached entangled in the weeds.

"Fortunately, I managed to retrieve all of it."

(Image: Friends of Ormsgill Reservoir) Whilst the cause of some wildfowl deaths are still to be determined, volunteers say they have never seen the pond weed so excessive with several other incidents related to fishing line and hooks in recent months.

The volunteers assert the overgrowth allows it to get entangled easier which in turn traps wildlife. 

Rachel said unregulated pond weed can also 'choke an ecosystem' causing low oxygen levels which can kill pond life and is also detrimental flora and fauna.

(Image: Friends of Ormsgill Reservoir) Gary Kirby, who lives by the reservoir, says Furness Fishing Association has applied to the council for the weed to be removed however he said the root problem was 'bad management of the water' and action needs to be taken now.

He said: " The council are passing it from one department to another - when is something going to be done?

"The FFA has done all that's its been asked and yet there's still no movement on resolving the problem.

"Council officials are taking so much time in making a decision with too many hoops to jump through in regard to health and safety.

(Image: Friends of Ormsgill Reservoir) "We need a more proactive understanding of what needs to be done and not to be pushed from one department to another.

"We understand that health and safety is important and everything in life is a risk, but we just want to protect the rez and wildlife."

A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said: "We recently conducted a routine inspection and identified the need to address the pond weed overgrowth, along with other elements that we are addressing.

"The Furness Fishing Association (FFA) has submitted a risk assessment for this work, which has been reviewed by our Health and Safety and Project Delivery teams and submitted back to the FFA.

"We take the management of the reservoir very seriously and are committed to addressing these issues promptly."