Invasive plant species are listed on the Wildlife and Countryside Act Part II under Schedule 9. Fauna species are also included as invasive species under this legislation. Recent invasive species surveys include;

• Japanese knotweed
• Indian balsam
• Giant hogweed (harmful to human health)
• Australian swamp stonecrop
• Floating pennywort
• Parrot’s feather
• Water fern
• Rhododendron

It is important to identify the presence of invasive species. For example: Japanese knotweed has the ability to infest the foundations of buildings, damage roads and other structures. This species can be costly if not identified at an early stage. Once an invasive species is identified on a site, the main priopreity is to prevent its spread and treat the area.