The evolution of the invasive weeds industry
In the lead up to Invasive Species week, plans are well underway for our programme of support and the awareness, guidance and advice we will share to support this annual campaign. But it had us thinking about how far we've come as a sector and the unique position the UK invasive weeds industry is in.
Japanese Knotweed, a plant which was originally feared as having destructive capabilities comparative to the triffids, catapulted the invasive weeds sector in the UK to its current day spectacle. This invasive plant is notorious for its ability to spread from tiny rhizome fragments, and its resilience to traditional control methods, making it a challenging and a long term problem to manage. However over the past few decades, there have been significant developments in the management of Japanese knotweed within the built environment, thanks to the efforts of those involved in the industry. So let's take a quick trip down memory lane and remind us of the journey we've been on so far....
A voice for this emerging industry
The PCA has played a significant role within the timber, damp and structural waterproofing industries from as early as the 1930’s. However, with the emergence of a plant capable of structural defects, and financial institutions becoming resistant towards lending on a property with Japanese knotweed, the PCA decided to step in and provide a voice to a new, emerging industry.
Estabishing the Invasive Weed Control Group in 2012, with industry leaders at its helm, we began to see the start of an evolution within the invasive weed industry. Management plans, backed with specialist insurance policies, designed for financial institutions and lending purposes, began to settle a turbulent property market.
Over these past 11 years, the PCA has provided its members and the wider public with training, accreditation, and support to ensure they provide high-quality service to their clients on the effective management of Japanese knotweed. The PCA also works closely with the government, local authorities, and other organisations to develop effective management strategies for this invasive plant. This collaboration allows for the sharing of knowledge and best practice, leading to the development of more effective understanding of treatment methods and management plans. We currently have almost 100 invasive weed members, and over 300 certificated surveyors in Japanese knotweed located throughout the UK, making the management of these plants accessible for everyone.
A little bit of industry evolution
Much like the neanderthal man, the evolution of invasive weeds industry didn’t happen overnight. It took years of experience, with ups and downs, eureka moments and some steep learning curves. But we got there, with no government backing or financial encouragement, and have established an industry which could be considered as the most successful invasive weeds sector within the world. From parliamentary debates to offering RICS guidance and creating our own for Japanese knotweed (and other invasive plants), the PCA sits at the forefront for invasive weeds within the built environment. This evolution was not achieved by one company or individual, but as a collective, based on a growing necessity to manage the build and environmental impacts of Japanese knotweed.
This collective achievement doesn’t stop at Japanese knotweed, and to the endeavour of PCA members and the Invasive Weeds Control Group, further guidance and training is provided for woody shrubs, Bamboo, Himalayan Balsam, Giant Hogweed and many other invasive plants too. Yet despite this, there is still a need for increased public education about the dangers of invasive plants - whether that is in respect to mass biodiversity loss, or the wider environmental impacts if these plants escape domestic gardens to flourish in woodlands at the demise of other native species.
Something to think about…
The evolution of the industry is far from over, with a legal requirement for integrated weed management strategies to try and reduce the overall dependency on herbicides, has prompted the need for further research and development into effective treatment methods for many invasive plants. A recent study identified over 50% of flora within Britain is non-native! Could these be factors to address in the next evolution of the industry, or will we continue to spread these plants at the cost of our own native species?