RICS Webinar 12th May 2020

Japanese Knotweed

Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Nicolas Seal CEnv, FIEMA

Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

• Introduction to knotweed, distribution etc.

• How to identify Japanese knotweed – know your limitations
• Survey techniques used by knotweed specialists
• Treatment or removal – in gardens or on development sites
• Management and risk (legal, financial and technical)
• Q&A

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

What is Japanese knotweed?

“the UK’s most aggressive, destructive and

invasive plant”

Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

“How a valuable plant in the East became

the root of all evil in the West”

Does it deserve this fierce reputation?

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Where is Japanese knotweed found?

Exposed – the Japanese Heatmap

www. environetuk.com/exposed-japanese-knotweed-heat-map

• Over 93,000 postcode searches per year

• 50,000 recorded sightings

Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

How to identify knotweed?

https://environetuk.com/Japanese-Knotweed-Identification

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

How to identify knotweed?

Winter

https://environetuk.com/Japanese-Knotweed-Identification

Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

How to identify
knotweed?

Spring

https://environetuk.com/Japanese-
Knotweed-Identification

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

How to identify knotweed?

Summer

https://environetuk.com/Japanese-Knotweed-Identification

Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

How to identify knotweed?

Autumn

https://environetuk.com/Japanese-Knotweed-Identification

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

How to identify knotweed?

Beware bonsai growth, following

herbicide treatment

https://environetuk.com/Japanese-Knotweed-Identification

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Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

How to identify knotweed?

Beware hybrids – Giant knotweed

https://environetuk.com/Japanese-Knotweed-Identification

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Survey techniques used by experts

Visual

History

and ….

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Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

NEW Dog Detection Surveys

See Mick and Mack in action

environetuk.com/japanese-knotweed-detection-dogs

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

The Treatment Options

Herbicide vs Removal

Control vs Eradication

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Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

The Treatment Options

Xtract™ - for construction sites

Resi-Dig-Outs – for gardens

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Management of Risk - Legal

Law Society’s Property Information Form (TA6)

Is the property affected by Japanese knotweed?

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Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Management of Risk - Legal

Knotweed grows from tiny pieces of

rhizomes!

TA6 answer “No” or “Not known”

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Management of Risk - Legal

Professional negligence

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Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Management of Risk - Legal

Professional negligence

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Management of Risk - Legal

Misrepresentation

Breach of contract – new builds

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Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Management of Risk - Legal

Private nuisance - encroachment

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Management of Risk - Financial

Diminution in value

Cost of treatment

Delays – sales & construction

environetuk.com/Japanese-knotweed-house-price-calculator

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Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Management of Risk - Technical

Does herbicide “eradicate” knotweed?

“Eradication means no regrowth in two years” (Knotweed contractor)

Or, perhaps for the more informed:

“the complete destruction of something” (English Dictionary)

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Management of Risk - Technical

Does knotweed damage property?

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Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Management of Risk - Technical

Does knotweed damage property?

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Management of Risk - Technical

Does knotweed damage property?

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Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Management of Risk - Technical

Does knotweed damage property?

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Management of Risk - Technical

Insurance backed guarantees

(IBGs)

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Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Case Study

Development site in the Midlands

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Management of Risk - Technical

Information Paper 27 withdrawn

Guidance Note awaited

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Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

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 Japanese Knotweed - Surveys, mitigation and risk management

Thank you for listening

Questions and Answers

Feel free to contact me:

nic.seal@environetuk.com Tel 01932 868 700

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