UK heatwave turns London canals GREEN – ‘It looks like PEA SOUP!’
THE summer heatwave is turning London’s canals GREEN in the midst of soaring temperatures which continue to grip much of the UK – and which show no signs of letting up.
With the mercury set to tip 30C tomorrow, Regents Canal has changed colour as a result of duck weed which has sprouted in the hot weather.
Volunteers at the Canal & River Trust have explained that rocketing temperatures have resulted in an “explosion” of the plant.
It floats on the surface of waterways and which is spreading across London’s network of canals.
Individual pieces of weed are roughly equivalent in size to a ladybird.
However, duck weed is capable of multiplying rapidly in the heat, and can cause problems for boats on the water.
The trust collected more than 70 tonnes of the stuff this week as Londoners enjoyed the hottest days of the year so far.
Tim Mulligan, Canal & River Trust waterway operative, says: "Duck weed is really noticeable on some sections of the canal at the moment.
“While I’m on our boat removing it I’m asked what it is all the time.
Some people says it looks like a garden lawn, or pea soup, or green porridge
“Some people says it looks like a garden lawn, or pea soup, or green porridge.
“The food references are interesting though, as we found that people in South East Asia regularly eat duck weed because it’s got loads of protein in it.
“I see plenty of ducks tucking into it, so I guess it could be the next super food craze.
“Although in all seriousness hopefully nobody would be foolish enough to eat it from the canals here in London."
The plants are not toxic – but there is a risk to dogs and other animals who can easily mistake it for grass.
The Met Office has warned people not to go out in the sun until Friday.
A spokesman said: “This year in parts of southern Britain, especially the South East, have received no appreciable rain since the end of May.
“Some gauges may show fractions of a millimetre, but the essence of the figures is that some parts of Britain haven’t seen rain for more than seven weeks, and there are no signs of any rain in the forecast for these areas.