Viewed as an attractive ornamental garden plant when initially
introduced to the UK in Victorian times, Japanese knotweed is now
regarded as something much more sinister. Unusually aggressive,
highly invasive, capable of regenerating from the smallest piece of
rhizome, difficult and expensive to eradicate ... It's
destructive nature (being capable of penetrating tarmac, building
foundations and drains, causing considerable and costly damage to
property and infrastructure) is becoming an ever increasing concern
for landowners.
The presence of Japanese knotweed can have an adverse effect on
the value, marketability, mortgageability and insurability of a
property. Although the hazardous weed is more prevalent in urban
areas, growing on derelict land and also along railway lines and
canals, where it was historically utilised to stabilise
embankments, it can be found in all parts of the country affecting
all types of land, including gardens of residential properties.
