Species listed under UK Acts
This page lists all species that are listed under UK Acts or legislation. Some species come under more than one.
Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981
An Act prohibiting and limiting actions involving wild animals, and the primary piece of legislation for wildlife protection in the UK. Prohibitions include taking, injuring, killing and disturbing. It is also an offence to disturb places used for shelter and protection.
All wild birds are protected, not just rare or endangered species. If rare or endangered, however, they are subject to even tighter controls and the penalties are severe.
What is Schedule 9?
Schedule 9, which applies in England to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (c. 69) (“the Act”), which lists non-native animals which are established in the wild which may not be released or allowed to escape into the wild unless authorised by a licence.
Most offences under Part I WCA 1981 are summary only and a person guilty of such an offence is liable on summary conviction to six months’ imprisonment or to a level five fine or both.
Species under Schedule 9:
Australian swamp stonecrop also known as New Zealand pigmyweed (Crassula helmsii)
Californian red seaweed (Pikea californica)
Curly waterweed (Lagarosiphon major)
Duck potato (Sagittaria latifolia)
Entire-leaved cotoneaster (Cotoneaster integrifolius)
False Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus inserta)
Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana)
Few-flowered leek (Allium paradoxum)
Floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides)
Floating water primrose (Ludwigia peploides)
Giant kelp (Macrocystis angustifolia)
Giant knotweed (Fallopia sachalinensis)
Green seafingers (Codium fragile)
Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)
Himalayan cotoneaster (Cotoneaster simonsii)
Hollyberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster bullatus)
Hooked asparagus seaweed (Asparagopsis armata)
Hottentot fig (Carpobrotus edulis)
Hybrid knotweed – Bohemica (Fallopia japonica x Fallopia sachalinensis)
Japanese kelp (Laminaria japonica)
Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
Japanese rose (Rosa rugosa)
Japanese seaweed (Sargassum muticum)
Laver seaweeds (Porphyra spp) – except native species
Montbretia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora)
Parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
Perfoliate alexanders (Smyrnium perfoliatum)
Purple dewplant (Disphyma crassifolium)
Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum)
Salvinia moss (Salvinia molesta or Salvinia adnata)
Small-leaved cotoneaster (Cotoneaster microphyllus)
Three-cornered garlic (Allium triquetrum)
Varigated yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. Argentatum)
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Water fern (Azolla filiculoides)
Wall Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis)
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Waterweeds – except Nuttall’s Waterweed (Elodea species except – Elodea nuttallii)
Water primrose (Ludwigia grandiflora)
Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)
Yellow azalea (Rhododendron luteum)
Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014
This Regulation sets out rules to prevent, minimise and mitigate the adverse impact on biodiversity of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species.
Invasive alien species (IAS) are animals, plants or other organisms that are introduced into places outside their natural range, negatively impacting native biodiversity, ecosystem services or human well-being.
Species under this regulation:
Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)
American skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus)
Asiatic tearthumb (Persicaria perfoliate)
Balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum)
Broadleaf watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum)
Broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus)
Chilean (or Giant) rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria)
Chinese bushclover (Lespedeza cuneata (Lespedeza juncea var. sericea))
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Crimson fountaingrass (Pennisetum setaceum)
Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera (Sapium sebiferum))
Curly waterweed (Lagarosiphon major)
Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia)
Floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides)
Floating water primrose (Ludwigia peploides)
Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
Golden wreath wattle (Acacia saligna)
Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)
Japanese hop (Humulus scandens)
Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)
Mesquite (Prosopis juliflora)
Nuttall’s waterweed (Elodea nuttallii)
Parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
Perrenial veldt grass (Ehrharta calycina)
Purple pampas grass (Cortaderia jubata)
Persian hogweed (Heracleum persicum)
Kudzu vine (Pueraria lobata)
Salvinia moss (Salvinia molesta or Salvinia adnata)
Senegal tea plant (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides)
Sosnowsky’s hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi)
Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Vine-like fern (Lygodium japonicum)
Water fern (Azolla filiculoides)
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Water primrose (Ludwigia grandiflora)
Whitetop weed (Parthenium hysterophorus)
Weeds Act 1959
Under the Weeds Act the Secretary of State for the Department Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) can, if satisfied that specified weeds are growing upon any land, serve a notice requiring the occupier to take action to prevent the spread of those weeds. An unreasonable failure to comply with a notice is an offence.
Species under this Act:
Broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius)
Common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)
Creeping/Field thistle (Cirsium arvense)
Curled dock (Rumex crispus)
Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare)