Schedule 9 Plants – Controlling The Threat of Invasive Plants

Their bionic growth and reluctance to be eradicated are a considerable headache for landowners, property developers, utility providers, homeowners, and mortgage providers. Invasive plants have destructive tendencies that trigger huge costs to treat, remove, and dispose of them. In an effort to contain their spread, the Government introduced strict regulations many years ago.

Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 lists all non-native UK plants considered invasive. It’s a vital piece of legislation, designed to protect wildlife, plants and natural habitats. This important section of the Act provides a framework for controlling the spread of these invasive species.

The Knotweed Specialists are skilled contractors with considerable experience tackling infestations nationwide. We are PCA accredited and offer an insurance-backed guarantee, which is accepted by major UK mortgage lenders. If you think you’ve spotted a Schedule 9 invasive species on your land, send us a WhatsApp image, and we’ll get back to you straight away.

What Are The Consequences?

The list of plants on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, are the most harmful, invasive non-native species within the UK. Under Schedule 9, it is illegal to release these invasive plants into the wild, plant them or allow them to spread. The consequences of failing to abide by these rules can result in a fine of up to £5000, a prison sentence of up to six months, liability for costs and claims for diminution of property value.

While the legal framework is important, we all share a responsibility to prevent the spread of these harmful plants, and there are things we can do to help.

• Learn how to correctly identify invasive species in your local area.
• Report sightings to the local authority.
• Take action to control invasive species on your own property.

Who’s On The Naughty List?

Safeguarding our environment from damaging infestations is crucial to protect local ecosystems, agriculture and the health of the public. The first step in controlling invasions is to learn what plants are problematic. So, let’s take a look at the plants that have been identified as invasive and found their way onto Schedule 9.

Take a deep breath – there’s quite a lot, and some might be a surprise…See below for the full disclosure:

Fanwort	Water Fern	Hottentot Fig
Water Hyacinth	Giant Kelp	Japanese Kelp
Water Lettuce	Parrots Feather	Floating Pennywort
Californian Red Seaweed	Hooked Asparagus Seaweed	Japanese Seaweed
Shallin	Australian Swamp Stonecrop	Wakame
Perfoliate Alexanders	Red Algae	Variegated Yellow Archangel
Himalayan Balsam	Cotoneaster	Entire Leaved Cotoneaster
Hollyberry Cotoneaster	Small Leaved Cotoneaster	False Virginia Creeper
Purple Dewplant	Fanwort	Hybrid Knotweed
Three Cornered Garlic	Giant Knotweed	Japanese Knotweed
Montbretia	Duck Potato	Floating Water Primrose
Rhododendron	Giant Rhubarb	Japanese Rose
Yellow Azalea	Himalayan Cotoneaster	Viginia Creeper
Hottentot Fig	Water Primrose	Laver Seaweed
Giant Hogweed	Few Flowered Leek	Giant Salvina
Green Seafingers	Waterweeds	Curly Waterweed

The Knotweed Specialists have a wealth of experience removing Japanese knotweed and other invasive weeds from affected land. We offer a comprehensive professional service tailored to your particular infestation. Don’t take risks with invasive plants; contact the professionals.

Some Common Offenders

In order to control invasive plant species, we need to know what we’re looking for. Let’s take a look at some of the more common invasive plants listed on Schedule 9. Knowing what these plants are and how to identify them could prevent a costly and damaging infestation.

Here are some common Schedule 9 species to look out for:

Japanese Knotweed

Top of the list, and the most invasive plant in the UK, affecting an estimated 1.5 million properties, is the dreaded Japanese knotweed plant. Look for thick stems that often display specks of red, large shield-shaped green leaves growing alternately, and creamy-white elongated flowers from late summer to early autumn. The plant dies back in the winter, leaving masses of hollow, dry stems behind.

This plant has a staggering growth rate, increasing by up to 20cm per day. Its aggressive growth is supported by a powerful system of underground rhizomes that will plough through the smallest of cracks, prizing them open and causing severe structural damage.

Japanese knotweed can cover vast areas of land in a short space of time. Its rhizomes are so strong they can sprout regrowth from the smallest piece and even lie dormant underground for up to 20 years before spawning. It’s no wonder this plant found itself in Schedule 9.

Giant Knotweed

Giant knotweed is a huge specimen. This plant is the largest invasive knotweed species and can grow between 10 and 20 feet tall. It is characterised by large umbrella-shaped white flowers and enormous thick stems. If left unchecked, Giant knotweed can create erosion along waterways, and obstruct streams and rivers.

The tough rhizomes damage property and infrastructure, and adversely impact local plants and wildlife. It also releases allelochemicals from the roots that are known to inhibit the growth of other plant species.

Himalayan Balsam

The distinctive pink flowers and long, serrated leaves of the Himalayan Balsam are easy to recognise during the summer months. During the growing period, Himalayan Balsam will quickly thrive in its preferred habitat of wetlands and riverbanks. This highly invasive plant spreads exclusively via seed dispersal. In fact, each plant scatters up to 800 seeds to a distance of 6 meters.

It’s position next to waterways means the seeds can be carried easily along rivers and streams, allowing them to travel vast distances. While the plant is quite noticeable when its in flower, its not easy to spot in the winter when the growth dies back. Look for rotting stems and bare riverbanks at this time. Its crucial to manage and control Himalayan Balsam, thanks to its ability to cause harmful erosion and instability along riverbanks.

Invasive Pond Weed

It’s not just land-based plants that find their way onto Schedule 9. An increasing problem in the UK is pond weed infestations. Species such as Floating Pennywort are illegal to plant or allow to grow in the wild as their habit is crowding out the nation’s waterways and negatively impacting local biodiversity. Invasive pond weeds like this float on top of the water, cutting the sunlight from the vegetation and wildlife beneath.

Other types of pond weed are ‘submerged’, with their roots growing in the mud at the bottom of the water. Submerged pond weeds can grow so extensively that large bodies of water can become entirely taken over, suffocating the other plants and wildlife.

If you’re unlucky enough to find a Schedule 9 plant on your property or building site, you’ll need to contact an experienced contractor to survey the infestation and create a management plan to treat, remove and dispose of the harmful plants.

Make sure the contractor is certified by the Property Care Association as this guarantees a benchmark level of service.

Contact The Knotweed Specialists if you have a Schedule 9 plant within your boundaries. We are PCA certified and take pride in our work, tackling infestations up and down the country. We have successfully treated Japanese knotweed, Giant knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and Bindweed invasions nationwide. Don’t take chances if you think you may have an invasive plant on your land.