Lower Trent Conservation says it’s employing an innovative solution with hopes of eradicating wild parsnip after it was identified for a second consecutive year at the Warkworth Conservation Area.
“Members of the public spotted a small cluster around the pond last year,” said Chris McLeod, conservation lands supervisor “Unfortunately, this spring, when we went back to examine the area, we saw that it had spread.”
This year, spread includes along the northwest of the conservation area and the south bank of the pond. In response, Lower Trent has opted for “occultation” as a method to try and eradicate it.
Occultation is a technique involving the placement of opaque tarps over affected areas, aiming to harness solar energy to heat the soil underneath, effectively killing both emergent plants and any seeds, explained Lower Trent.
“We have decided to cover the area to kill any seed bank that may have dispersed from previous years,” added McLeod. “The seeds are easily spread by wind and water, as well as by mowing or other equipment.”
Wild parsnip, which is also known as poison parsnip, is a member of the carrot/parsley family.
It typically grows a low, spindly rosette of leaves in the first year while the root develops. In the second year, it flowers on a tall stalk and then dies, said Lower Trent staff.
“The plant can form dense stands, and spreads quickly in disturbed areas, such as abandoned yards, waste dumps, meadows, open fields, roadsides, and railway embankments,” reads a release from Lower Trent. “Like other members of the carrot family, it produces sap containing chemicals that can cause severe burns, rashes, or blisters when exposed to sunlight.”
Identifying wild parsnip is essential for effective management – conservation officials say people should look for tall plants, reaching up to 1.5 metres in height, with a single smooth stem ranging from two-to-five centimeters thick.
Its compound leaves grow in pairs, featuring sharply toothed leaflets resembling mittens.
“Keep an eye out for umbrella-shaped clusters of yellowish-green flowers, typically 10-to-20 centimetres across.”
Officials ask if you have seen wild parsnip, or any other invasive species, to visit www.invadingspecies.com for more information and/or to make a report.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)