Some plants, like Japanese knotweed, can cause serious damage to buildings, gardens, and the environment. They spread quickly and are hard to remove. Because of this, the law says you must stop these plants from spreading. This is part of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

What it looks like

Japanese knotweed has:

• green hollow stems that are similar to bamboo
• purple/red speckles on the stems
• heart or shovel-shaped leaves with pointed tips and zig-zags on the stem
• 10-15 centimetre long leaves
• small cream coloured flowers that bloom in late summer
• thick, woody roots that are orange inside when cut
• red or purple shoots that appear in spring
• thick and fast growth in summer
• dead stems in winter

Removing knotweed

You must not let any invasive species spread onto neighbouring land. If you have any invasive plants on your property, you must take action to control them.

Getting rid of knotweed is difficult and should be removed by professionals. If you decide to remove it yourself, you must not put it in:

• household waste
• garden waste
• compost bins

This can spread the plant further and cause more damage.

Report knotweed

If you are affected by knotweed from a neighbouring property, contact the Community Protection Team. They can give you advice and support.