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Treatment of invasive plants
Treatment of invasive plants
The definition of an invasive species applies to plants or animals that adversely affect the habitat they invade environmentally, economically and ecologically. Invasive species upset the balance of the ecosystem as they begin to grow faster and become more aggressive than the native species.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) is the main legislation for nature conservation in Great Britain. Of specific relevance is that it restricts the introduction of some non-native animals and plants. “If any person plants or causes to grow in the wild any plant which is included in Part II of Schedule 9, he shall be guilty of an offence.” A new variation which came into force for England and Wales on 6 April 2010 adds 39 new entries.
There is a wide range of other environmental conservation legislation from the general to the specific, including the Weeds Act 1959 (i.a. requiring landowners to control common ragwort), the Control of Pesticides (Amendment) Regulations 1997, and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which defines the legal framework for duty of care for waste, contaminated land and statutory nuisance.
Each invasive plant has its own way or ways of propagating itself and so approaches to dealing with each plant will depend on what plant it is, what danger it presents, where it is, what the land is needed for and when action needs to be taken.
We can visit your site to conduct an identification and assessment, and advise on the best course of action. We are experienced in treatment, control and eradication of many species.
Details of the most common invasive species are as follows:
For further information on invasive species, including impact examples and information on individual species, please check the Defra website for details.
