THE infamous Japanese knotweed is well known to be Britain’s most invasive plant and there are over 100 infestations across Sussex.
Japanese knotweed has a bad reputation among horticulturists and homeowners because this incredibly invasive plant can damage property and land beyond recognition.
The zombie-like plant can grow up to 10cm per day between May and July, causing thousands of pounds of damage.
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The government estimates it would cost £1.5billion to rid the UK of knotweed and landowners who fail to stop the spread of the plant on their land can face fines and even prison sentences. prison under ASBO legislation.
Japanese Knotweed Hot Spots in Sussex
As the UK’s most invasive plant enters its spring growth phase, Japanese knotweed expert Environet reveals the latest hotspots using data from its interactive online tracking tool, Exposed: The Map thermal of Japanese knotweed.
Populated with over 55,500 known Japanese knotweed infestations, tracing the spread of the plant across the UK, Exposed informs homeowners and potential buyers of the local presence of knotweed and the potential risk to their property.
Users can enter a postcode to find out the number of reported knotweed sightings nearby, with hotspots highlighted in yellow or red.
The Sussex Japanese Knotweed hotspots for 2022 are: Brighton with 49 infestations within a 4km radius, Hastings (58), Bexhill (21), Crowborough (24) and in the Crowborough area (38).
How to spot a Japanese knotweed infestation:
After its winter hibernation, knotweed begins to grow in March or April, depending on local soil temperature, reaching up to 3 meters in height by mid-summer.
Homeowners who spend more time in their gardens this spring may notice purple or red asparagus-like shoots now emerging from the ground and quickly turning into lush green shrubs with heart- or spade-shaped leaves and speckled stems. of pink.
What effect does this have on your property?
Pushing through concrete cracks, driveways, patios, paths, drains and even the cavity walls of our homes, Japanese knotweed can reduce the value of a property by 10% and make it difficult to sell. unless a professional treatment plan is in place with an insurance backed guarantee to satisfy mortgage lenders.
According to Environet research, around 5% of homes are currently affected, either directly or indirectly (near an affected property), knocking around £20 billion off UK house prices.
To see Japanese knotweed infestations in your area or to report a sighting, visit: https://environetuk.com/exposed-japanese-knotweed-heat-map
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Source: www.theargus.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-11 10:22:43
