Japanese knotweed dumped in Wince Brook

Japanese knotweed dumped in Wince Brook

Japanese knotweed has been dumped in the nature reserve close to Albany Street.

Under the provisions made within the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to cause Japanese knotweed to grow in the wild; offenders can be fined up to £5,000 or be sent to prison for up to two years if contaminated soil or plant material from any waste transferred is allowed to spread into the wild.

Ian Trickett, of the council’s environmental management service, said: “We take a zero-tolerance approach to this criminal activity. We are investigating and if the perpetrators are caught we will, working in partnership with the Environment Agency, seek to prosecute.

“In the meantime, the knotweed will be removed, treated and killed off as a matter of urgency to prevent this invasive and damaging plant causing any environmental damage downstream.”

Introduced from Japan in 1825 as an ornamental plant, Japanese knotweed can easily overwhelm other garden plants due to its rapid annual growth and relentless spread. It can grow in any kind of soil, no matter how poor the conditions.

In spring and summer, bamboo-like shoots grow to 2.1m (7ft) tall. The hollow canes have characteristic purple flecks, and produce branches from nodes along its length. Shovel-shaped leaves are up to 14cm (5½in) in length and the creamy-white flower tassels produced in late summer and early autumn reach up to 15cm (6in).

In winter, the stems die back to ground level, turning brown in colour.

Other plants may be mistaken for Japanese knotweed, including Houttunyia, ornamental Bistorts, lesser knotweed, Himalayan Balsam, broadleaved dock, bindweed, bamboo, Russian vine and Himalayan Honeysuckle.