Invasive plant species

Invasive plant species

The Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, Schedule 9, includes a list of plants that are illegal to plant or allow to grow as they can out-compete native plants. Unlike the plants listed above, councils have a duty to remove these plants14 and the government offers them a financial supplement to take action.

Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

This tall plant has spade-shaped leaves and produces sprays of white flowers. It is extremely invasive, fast-spreading and very difficult to get rid of and is reported to damage walls and building foundations. If it appears on your street, ask for advice from your local council on the steps to be taken. It’s best not to attempt to remove it yourself as that can cause spreading and the only effective treatment currently reported is the licensed injection of herbicides directly into the stems.

Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)

This tall plant, originally from Southern Russia and Georgia, can reach over three meters in height. With thick bristly stems and large white flowers, it is a close relative of cow parsley. Although it may seem attractive, it can be invasive, and its sap can result in severe skin burns to humans. It is widely distributed and should be removed by trained professionals to avoid any potential harm. Cattle seem to be partial to it so that can also be a creative solution to the possible problem!

Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis)

A shrub that’s recognisable by its profusion of white flowers in the summer turning to red berries in the autumn, cotoneaster’s roots are aggressive and the plants can spread easily. Some cotoneasters are listed in Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, so they shouldn’t be allowed to spread beyond gardens.

Pesticide-free plant removal techniques

When it comes to management, there are many effective non-chemical alternatives to pesticides that can help clear unwanted detritus and plants. These range from manual methods like hand-weeding and hoeing (which can be deployed via community weeding schemes), preventative methods such as mulching or plant cover, and technological-based methods including steel-brushing and sweeping, hot foam treatments and using electricity or flame weeding to kill plants. There are even solutions that have been developed specifically to deal with invasive species, including Japanese Knotweed. The key is in designing a year-round ‘weed’ management plan. Consult our Guide to Alternatives to Herbicides15 to find out more.

These measures can be cost effective. Read more about different cost-cutting solutions and potential savings in our briefing, ‘Going pesticide-free doesn’t have to cost the Earth’ 16