05/04/2026
If you’re following Reading Council ‘s recommendation to visit Fobney Island you will notice that part of the area is fenced off.
(They didn’t mention that!)
This is because there is a very invasive and easily spread plant growing there, New Zealand swamp stonecrop, Crassula Helmsii.
Sadly since the photo was taken the water level has dropped and the fence has fallen down so now the infected area is becoming exposed. As the water level drops there is a high risk of the plant being spread.
It smothers the plants that should be growing there and has the potential to “escape” as fragments can get in to the tread of boots or the claws of dogs.
The fence is there (and so once upon a time were some notices) to try and prevent this from happening.
Please stay away from the area fenced off, despite the fence having fallen down.
It’s a shame that RBC didn’t mention it when they promoted visiting this otherwise beautiful area.
They have been unable to stop its spread within the island and it’s a bit disappointing that they seem oblivious to the risk of it getting anywhere else.
We think we have a solution and we’re trying to get the council to take some action, but it’s very difficult as they only have limited resources and these are used to spray glyphosate on pavements.
