Latest news with #EmilyGrant
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The hotspots for Japanese knotweed in Somerset
JAPANESE knotweed season is underway, and North Somerset residents are being urged to check for local infestations. According to invasive plant specialist Environet, there are 583 verified sightings of Japanese knotweed in Somerset, with 0.36 cases per square mile. The figures come from Exposed: The Japanese Knotweed Heatmap, an online tool that tracks more than 100,000 verified sightings across the UK. The map allows the public to search by postcode, view infestation risk levels, and submit new reports with photos for expert verification. Here are the top Japanese knotweed hotspots in Somerset for 2025: 1 Bath - 159 2 Portishead - 37 3 Clevedon - 30 4 Weston-Super-Mare - 24 5 Keynsham - 21 =6 Taunton - 15 =6 Winscombe - 14 8 Wincanton - 12 9 Radstock - 11 10 Nailsea - 11 Japanese knotweed, introduced to the UK in the Victorian era, spreads via underground rhizomes that can grow up to 3 metres deep and 7 metres wide. While serious structural damage is rare, the plant can lower property values and lead to disputes. A DEFRA report estimated the annual cost of tackling knotweed in the UK at nearly £250 million. Environet Director Emily Grant said: 'By mapping verified sightings, we're helping people understand the level of risk in their local area and encouraging early identification and treatment.'
Western Telegraph
21-07-2025
- General
- Western Telegraph
Pembrokeshire named among Wales' top knotweed hotspots
Figures released by invasive plant specialists Environet reported almost two thousand sightings of the destructive plant in the county in the last 12 months. Newport in Gwent was named the country's worst hotspot for sightings of the plant. Why Japanese Knotweed is a Problem Japanese knotweed is considered one of the most invasive and destructive plants in the UK. Known for its rapid growth and aggressive root system, it can reach up to three metres underground and seven metres horizontally, often pushing through concrete, tarmac, driveways, drains and even cavity walls. While it rarely causes structural damage directly, its presence can significantly reduce property value by around 5% on average and complicate the process of selling or securing a mortgage. Legal disputes between neighbours are not uncommon when the plant spreads across property boundaries. Knotweed is legally classified as a controlled plant under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. While having it on your land isn't illegal, allowing it to spread especially into the wild or onto neighbouring properties can result in prosecution or enforcement action. Using data from their interactive heatmap Exposed, the company revealed the locations across the UK with the most verified knotweed sightings and Wales is home to some of the highest concentrations. In total, Newport city recorded 1,747 verified sightings, while Rogerstone alone saw 268 cases, making the area one of the most affected nationwide. The Vale of Glamorgan had 434 reports, and Pembrokeshire saw 1,943, with 0.46 sightings per square mile still higher than the average in England. The invasive plant, which thrives in spring and summer, can cause serious structural issues if left unmanaged. While severe damage is rare, it can reduce a property's value by around 5% and lead to disputes if it spreads between properties. Environet's data shows Wales has 3.9 knotweed sightings per square mile, compared to 1.1 in England. Emily Grant, director at Environet, said: 'By mapping verified sightings, we're helping people understand the level of risk in their local area and encouraging early identification and treatment." She added that this time of year makes knotweed easy to spot, with its heart-shaped leaves and bamboo-like stems. The company offers free identification if members of the public email a photograph to their experts. The heatmap, which draws from over 100,000 verified cases, allows users to enter their postcode to check local infestations, and even add new sightings with photos to aid nationwide awareness and treatment. Other Welsh areas in the top 10 include: Cardiff: 949 Swansea: 936 Llanelli: 693 Neath: 396 More rural counties such as Ceredigion, Gwynedd and Carmarthenshire also saw hundreds of sightings.
North Wales Live
20-07-2025
- Climate
- North Wales Live
The three North Wales villages that are hotspots for invader that can damage homes
The "top ten" places in Wales blighted by Japanese knotweed have been named - and three are in North Wales. With the Japanese knotweed growing season now well underway, invasive plant can damage properties, patios and paving and devalue land. Now invasive plant specialist Environet has revealed Wales's knotweed hotspots for 2025 using the latest data from its online tracker, Exposed: The Japanese Knotweed Heatmap. There are a total of 31,338 verified knotweed sightings in Wales, or 3.9 incidences in every square mile, compared to 1.1 incidences per square mile in England. They show the worst places in this region are Betws-y-Coed and Dolwyddelan in Conwy, and Tanygrisiau in Gwynedd. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday Now populated with over 100,000 known incidences of the UK's most invasive plant, the map is updated with new verified sightings throughout the year, say Environet. This provides the most comprehensive online record of Japanese knotweed in the country, it claims. Members of the public can enter their postcode to discover the number of sightings nearby, with hotspots highlighted in yellow, orange or in the worst cases red, helping them understand the level of risk posed to their home or one they wish to buy. They can also help populate the heatmap by reporting knotweed infestations using the 'Add Sighting' feature and attaching a photograph of the plant so it can be verified by experts. Wales's Top 10 Japanese knotweed hotspots for 2025 are: Incidences 1 Newport city - 1,239 2 Cardiff city - 949 3 Swansea city - 936 4 Llanelli, Camarthenshire - 693 5 Betws-y-Coed, Conwy - 421 6 Neath, Neath Port Talbot - 396 7 Dolwyddelan, Conwy - 298 8 Llanafan, Ceredigion - 289 9 Rogerstone, Newport - 268 10 Tanygrisiau, Gwynedd - 254 Japanese knotweed first arrived in UK in the Victorian times in a box of plant specimens delivered to Kew Gardens and was quickly adopted by gardeners and horticulturalists, who were unaware of its invasive nature. Knotweed begins to emerge in early spring, quickly growing into lush green shrubs with pink-flecked stems, heart-shaped leaves and bamboo-like canes. But it can pose serious problems for homeowners. Its underground rhizomes that can grow up to three metres deep and spread up to seven metres horizontally, emerging through cracks in concrete, tarmac driveways, pathways, drains and cavity walls. While serious damage to property is rare, since mortgage lenders require knotweed to be dealt with when a property is sold, it can cause legal disputes between neighbours and reduce a property's value by approximately five per cent, say Environet. A 2023 DEFRA report put the cost of tackling knotweed to the UK economy at nearly £250 million a year. Environet Director Emily Grant said: 'By mapping verified sightings, we're helping people understand the level of risk in their local area and encouraging early identification and treatment. 'Vigilance is the best way to protect your property from Japanese knotweed, making sure you tackle it as early as possible before it becomes well established. At this time of year, knotweed is in full growth mode and easy to spot with its bright green heart-shaped leaves which grow in a zigzag pattern up the stems. "Mature plants flower around August, when they produce clusters of tiny white blooms."
South Wales Argus
19-07-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Newport and Vale of Glamorgan among Wales' knotweed hotspots
Why Japanese Knotweed is a Problem Japanese knotweed is considered one of the most invasive and destructive plants in the UK. Known for its rapid growth and aggressive root system, it can reach up to three metres underground and seven metres horizontally, often pushing through concrete, tarmac, driveways, drains and even cavity walls. While it rarely causes structural damage directly, its presence can significantly reduce property value by around 5% on average and complicate the process of selling or securing a mortgage. Legal disputes between neighbours are not uncommon when the plant spreads across property boundaries. Knotweed is legally classified as a controlled plant under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. While having it on your land isn't illegal, allowing it to spread especially into the wild or onto neighbouring properties can result in prosecution or enforcement action. Using data from their interactive heatmap Exposed, the company revealed the locations across the UK with the most verified knotweed sightings and Wales is home to some of the highest concentrations. In total, Newport city recorded 1,747 verified sightings, while Rogerstone alone saw 268 cases, making the area one of the most affected nationwide. The Vale of Glamorgan had 434 reports, and Pembrokeshire saw 1,943, with 0.46 sightings per square mile still higher than the average in England. The invasive plant, which thrives in spring and summer, can cause serious structural issues if left unmanaged. While severe damage is rare, it can reduce a property's value by around 5% and lead to disputes if it spreads between properties. Environet's data shows Wales has 3.9 knotweed sightings per square mile, compared to 1.1 in England. Emily Grant, director at Environet, said: 'By mapping verified sightings, we're helping people understand the level of risk in their local area and encouraging early identification and treatment." She added that this time of year makes knotweed easy to spot, with its heart-shaped leaves and bamboo-like stems. The company offers free identification if members of the public email a photograph to their experts. The heatmap, which draws from over 100,000 verified cases, allows users to enter their postcode to check local infestations, and even add new sightings with photos to aid nationwide awareness and treatment. Other Welsh areas in the top 10 include: Cardiff: 949 Swansea: 936 Llanelli: 693 Neath: 396 More rural counties such as Ceredigion, Gwynedd and Carmarthenshire also saw hundreds of sightings.
The Herald Scotland
19-07-2025
- Climate
- The Herald Scotland
Dorset Japanese Knotweed hotspots revealed for 2025
The invasive plant species is responsible for damaging homes, pavements and drains and can spread up to seven metres horizontally. It begins to emerge in the spring and sticks around during the summer months. There are currently around 100,000 known infestations of Japanese Knotweed, which can be found on the Environet interactive map here. Japanese Knotweed is a highly invasive plant species (Image: Getty Images) Environet Director Emily Grant said: 'By mapping verified sightings, we're helping people understand the level of risk in their local area and encouraging early identification and treatment." She continued: 'Public engagement is key in the fight against knotweed, and by reporting new sightings homeowners can play an important role in controlling this invasive plant and protecting property values.' Where are Dorset's Japanese Knotweed hotspots for 2025? According to Enivronet, the worst spot for Japanese Knotweed in Dorset is around Lyme Regis, with there being 149 sightings within five miles of the DT6 6BW postcode. Lyme Regis has a high concentration of Japanese Knotweed sightings (Image: Environet) There are also large clusters around Dorchester (92 sightings within five miles), Weymouth (56 sightings), Wareham (42 sightings) and Swanage (33 sightings). Alongside that, there is also a significant chunk close to Wimborne Minster with 60 sightings. Within the BCP area, there have been quite a few cases of Japanese Knotweed, with 77 sightings reported within five miles of the BH12 2HB postcode. Meanwhile, 62 sightings have been reported within five miles of the BH6 3LU postcode, taking in eastern Bournemouth and Christchurch. The BCP area has a fair few cases of Japanese Knotweed (Image: Environet) Highcliffe also has a fair few with 52 sightings reported within a five miles radius of the area. How to spot Japanese Knotweed Japanese Knotweed hibernates over winter, but in March or April, it begins to grow, with red or purple spear-like shoots emerging from the ground, which quickly grow into lush green shrubs with pink-flecked stems and bamboo-like canes. The roots can grow as deep as three metres and spread up to seven metres horizontally. Recommended reading: What to do if you have Japanese Knotweed The first step to tackling the plant is to commission a professional Japanese Knotweed survey and find out the extent of the infestation. They will be able to tell you where it originated and the best way to tackle it. Professional treatment should then be organised, which usually involves the use of herbicides for the excavation of the infestation. If you're buying a property and you want to be sure it's clear of knotweed, particularly if it's located in or near a hotspot, arrange a detection survey.
