Invasive Species Surveys

Over 20 plant species are listed under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an offence to plant or otherwise cause these species to grow in the wild. Construction works which can inadvertently spread these species need to be very carefully managed to ensure compliance with legislation. While some of these species are well known, e.g. Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed, others such as few-flowered leek and Australian swamp stonecrop are also widespread in Scotland and northern England.