Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica var japonica)

Do you have this plant on your property?

Contact us the leading specialists in identity, control, removal and eradication of Japanese Knotweed.

 Victorian Horticulturalists introduced Japanese Knotweed to this country in the mid 19^th century as an ornamental plant. The plant originated in Japan where it can grow virtually anywhere even on the side of volcanoes.

It is now on the Environment Agency list of invasive plants, and is causing a hazard to the UK’s bio diversity. Some reports suggest that £1.6 billion is spent annually on it’s removal.

It is effectively a giant herbaceous perennial of the family Polygonaceae, which grows at an alarming rate of up to 10cm per day in any type of soil. As a plant it is quite attractive with stems which are red/brown at the base and mottled green towards the tip with bright green heart shaped leaves. It forms dense clumps of up to 3m (10ft) in height. Japanese Knotweed thrives on disturbance and spreads by natural means and by human activity. Very small fragments of rhizome (underground stems), as little as 0.7g – approximately the size of your fingernail – can produce fresh new plants. But it is below ground where this invader causes the biggest problems, as each stand creates a rhizome network that can extend to 3m in depth and 7m in all directions.

It is said that one single plant can colonise a area up to the size of a tennis court in only one year.

Qualified operatives will provide an efficient and effective service, in line with Environmental Agency guidelines.

We have, developed methods and systems based on attention to detail and a combination of controls available which are proven to work. We also have a total commitment to complete long term eradication on every site.

We provide the following :

Site Surveys

Reports

Management Plans

Eradication Programmes

Contact us for more information.

The Law

Strong legislation is in place due to the destructive characteristics of Japanese Knotweed, and the procudures of eradicating this weed.
 
5 common legal issues with regards to Japanese Knotweed:

• You can be sued (under laws relating to private nuisance under common law) for costs and damages if you allow Japanese Knotweed to spread from your property onto that of an adjacent landowner.
• It is an offence to cause the spread of Japanese Knotweed under Section 14(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA 1981)
• Fine of £5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment, or 2 years and/or an unlimited fine on indictment.
• The Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990, Duty of Care Regulations 1991 state that cut Japanese Knotweed material and soil containing rhizomes must be disposed of as controlled waste.
• It’s not illegal to have it on your land
• It’s not a notifiable weed

For a full description of all Japanese Knotweed legislation, please refer to the Environment Agency ‘knotweed code of practice’.
http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/japnkot_1_a_1463028.pdf