A plant survey does two things – it identifies and quantifies the extent of invasive plants. Both are crucial for managing invasive weeds effectively to ensure ecosystem protection and legal compliance. These non-native plants – introduced to the UK from abroad, can disrupt ecosystems and our native plant communities. Here we look at why an invasive weed survey is important for the control of invasive species in the UK.
how to identify an invasive weed
If you have a plant that appears to be taking over your land or property, it may be just a problematic plant or it could be an invasive weed. The difference being an invasive weed is capable of dominating other plants and can be difficult to remove. So the best way to find out is to have the suspect plant identified by professionals in this field. Our plant experts are available via the online identification service where you can upload images of the suspect plant, or you can book a survey with one of our expert survey team.
examples of invasive plants:
There are over 200 plant species currently identified as invasive to the UK. The list below are some of the more common plants:
- Japanese knotweed
- Himalayan balsam
- Giant hogweed
- Rhodonedron ponticum
- Bamboo
- Ragwort
- Horsetail
- Parrot’s feather (image of Parrot’s feather infestation above)
- Floating pennywort
- Azolla
- Nuttall’s water weed
See full list of invasive plants we control
what is an invasive weed survey?
A professional invasive plant survey involves a visual inspection (walk-over) of the area concerned. This can take anything from an hour to several days for a complex site and may include survey-mapping to determine the extent of the spread. If the site is near water a 2-person survey is required for health and safety reasons. The surveyor should be qualified to identify invasive plants, including noxious plants. The surveyor will take pictures of the site, the plants identified as invasive weeds and will record all of the findings, both visual and written in a report document. The report may also include location and volume of the plant.
why is an invasive plant survey important?
There are several reasons to get a professional survey carried out. You may suspect an invasive plant infestation on your land or property, or you may be considering a property or land purchase and wish to know if it has any issues with invasive plants. The latter is vital consideration for land or property developers, and we would highly recommend a pre-purchase survey in this case.
The main factors for having a survey carried out include:
- Environmental impact – invasive plants have a high impact on habitats.
- Economic cost – invasive plants can cause financial losses to industries.
- Legal compliance – invasive plants are governed by UK legislation.
- Development constraint – invasive plants can lead to delays on construction projects.
Why is controlling invasive weeds important?
Invasive species displace or outcompete (kill) our native plants. Invasive plants (or weeds) are one of the biggest threats to our biodiversity and protecting our native species is of paramount importance. Invasive plants such as Himalayan balsam shown above can quickly take over large areas of land. Often more resilient than our native plants and with a rapid growth pattern they block out sunlight and oxygen causing an unbalanced ecosystem that depletes weaker species.
Legislation covers Non-Native Invasive Plant Species (NNIS), including the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, Wildlife & Natural Environment Act 2012 (in Scotland and Northern Ireland), and EU Invasive Alien Species Regulations. Failing to conform to these regulations can lead to legal action.
In our ‘Climate Change’ series we predicted the effect extreme weather conditions (that we’re now experiencing in the UK) would have on plant species and how invasive non-native species may have the upper hand on survival. We must therefore control or remove invasive plants to provide protection to our ecosystems. It starts with a survey, book yours today by completing the form below: