Japanese Knotweed: Government to issue Asbos to those who fail to deal with invasive plant species

Nov 19, 2014 08:01 pm

I will never listen to Gardener’s Question Time with the same sense of  innocence again! This article tells us: The Government has named Japanese knotweed as one of the “non-native” plants which “have the ability to spread and pose serious threats to biodiversity, the economy and human health”.

As a result, new rules have been introduced in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 that could see people and organisations served with notices for “not controlling Japanese knotweed [when they] could be reasonably expected to do so”.

“Failure to act” is defined specifically as a form of anti-social “conduct”, according to a Home Office document, and individuals could be fined up to £2,500. Companies who allow the weed to get out of control could face a fine up to £20,000.

Japanese knotweed was brought to Britain in the 19th century as Fallopia japonica, a medal-winning ornamental plant.

But it has become a botanical menace, capable of ripping through concrete and brickwork and causing £170 million of damage a year.