Release of Psyllid Aphids

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

I have been prattling on about the Psyllid aphid release that has been suggested by CABI (a Government funded ‘not for profit’ organisation) and I will admit I have been very negative.

In my defence I would point out that my initial reaction on hearing of the

suggested bio control of Japanese Knotweed – was to contact CABI and in

particular Dr Richard Shaw in an effort to get myself up to speed on what was being suggested. Unfortunately I didn’t get a response to either phone calls or emails.

Instead of keeping quiet and awaiting release of information I put my thoughts in writing - which ended up on my Blog - which ended up being circulated around the internet ….and most of what I said was wrong.

I attended a recent seminar in Sheffield where Dr Shaw explained the reasoning behind the aphid release and the science behind the decisions that have been made….and it all made reasonable sense!!

Dr Shaw explained that the Psyllids (pronounced syllids) are very specific about what they will eat – and if they can’t find their specific food source they will die. SO in theory at least they shouldn’t go round eating any of our native plants. He went on to explain that the Psyllid won’t defoliate the plant (an assumption that I had made) IN FACT - the foliage will actually be more abundant in season two – making the application of chemical control MORE effective…also the plant will be weaker due to the psyllid predation - and thus should be easier to kill…

CABI are assuming that there will be a cycle of peaks and hollows in the

abundance of aphids – one season lots of aphids and a reduction in JK cover – next season less JK therefore less for the aphid to eat therefore it dies back – season three more JK because there are fewer aphids – season four more aphids due to mass of JK growth etc etc in a cyclical pattern (a little like Ragwort and the Cinnabar Moth to those of you familiar with that cycle).

Dr Shaw pointed out that he did not expect that the Aphid would be the one stop answer to all of our Japanese Knotweed problems. CABI also do not expect the Psyllid to kill the Knotweed plant on which it lives. What they are expecting is that a balance will be achieved between the predator and host which will reduce the invasive nature of the Japanese Knotweed and prevent the continued unchecked spread of the plant.

This must be supported by anybody either in the industry or anybody

wishing to see our native countryside protected.

I do still have some concerns about the use of one pest to get rid of another and the fact that the Psyllid has no natural enemies in the UK – however I now feel more inclined to accept the fact that this release is going to happen.

Our approach at Japanese Knotweed Solutions will be to work with the

Government experts - and try to ensure that we continue to offer our clients the most up to date practical advice on controlling and managing Non Native Species.

And in future I shall learn to keep my mouth shut until I am fully aware of all the issues.

Mike C

Posted in Japanese Knotweed Info | 3 Comments »

To sift or not to sift – that is the Question??

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

In the small world of Japanese Knotweed contractors a battle rages for the hearts and minds of the customer…

Every year tales of instant solutions come and go - along with secret techniques and ‘hush hush’ chemicals…

Most of these stories are nonsense – hokum - designed to baffle the customer and gain work for the less scrupulous contractors.

However - one technique keeps coming back year after year to haunt us all - ‘soil screening’.

Imagine…a technique that allows you to remove the Japanese Knotweed rhizome from the soil – without chemicals – leaving you with clean soil!

Wow fantastic….hold on - warning bells ringing?? What’s that smell?? …is it b*****t..??

Let’s examine the facts:

A typical specification would read – … ‘soil screening is a mechanical process carried out in situ which allows Japanese Knotweed contaminated material to be re-used on site’

The above was copied from one of our competitors ‘specifications’ – word for word – so just take a moment  to take in the information … allows Japanese Knotweed contaminated material to be re-used on site’…

Is this really what you want? Japanese Knotweed contaminated material being re-used onsite?

FACT - It is impossible to remove – ALL - Japanese Knotweed rhizome from soil.

What screening should be used for is to – REDUCE – the amount of rhizome in soil

In recent conversation with a senior member of the Environment Agency he expressed ‘concern’ that screening would be used as a ‘stand alone answer’ to Japanese Knotweed problems – when it should really only be used as part of an integrated approach

YES – screen your soil, YES you will reduce the amount of rhizome – BUT – you will not end up with clean soil.

What you will end up with is a massive number of small fragmented sections of Japanese knotweed – each with the ability to re-grow

THUS – SORRY - YOU WILL NEED A CHEMICAL TREATMENT STRATEGY IN PLACE for a minimum of five years – and will be at risk of re-growth for up to ten years.

Don’t listen to the b*****t artists – talk to the experts, talk to Alex talk to Mike, talk to Dan, talk to Becca, talk to Suzanne…Sophie, Meg, Sarah, Emma, Phil, Mike, Rick, Pete, James – in fact talk to anyone at JAPANESE KNOTWEED SOLUTIONS – we do what it says on the tin.

Mike C

Posted in Japanese Knotweed Info | 4 Comments »

So…Is Bio Control Actually Going to Happen??

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

A follow up to the Public Consultation ref. Potential Release of Aphalara itadori as a control measure for Japanese Knotweed - was held at The Innovation Centre in Reading on the 9^th December.

The conference was attended by members from the Environment Agency, DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs), FERA (Food and Environment Research Agency), the Plant Health service, some interested parties such as British Waterways, the Cornwall Knotweed forum and the National Trust as well as myself and two other Japanese Knotweed consultants.

The presentations were from Dick Shaw (CABI) and Steve Ashby with a follow up by Sarah Hugo from FERA. Full details of the presentations will be available at a Seminar being held by Japanese Knotweed Solutions in March 2009 – for details on how to book a place, please contact Suzanne Hardy at our Manchester office on 0161 723 2000.

Having no experience of ‘Public Consultations’ I have been amazed to find that nobody that I have spoken to has even heard of the Psyllid aphid – and nobody has been aware that there even has been a ‘consultation’!

Apparently this is not unusual – what an apathetic bunch of people us UK citizens are!

So….Christmas Quiz!

Q. Of a population of 70 million….guess how many responded to the Public Consultation??

Answers please on the response section of the Blog – anyone getting the correct answer will win a bottle of champagne.

Mike C

Posted in Japanese Knotweed Info | 2 Comments »

Karma…

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

I’m a great believer in Karma, my Dad always said, ‘Be good to people on the way up because you might meet them again on the way down.’

So….I hope that I took that on board…

I treat people at face value and do not have pre judged opinions about anybody - before I get to know them. I pretty much treat everybody the same and am honest about what we do and how we do it ….

I also tell my team that they must never tell a customer something that isn’t true - just to make a sale.

I’m sure that we lose a lot of business simply because we tell the truth - unfortunately there are people out there who are full of cr*p…

It is not possible to tell the exact extent of Japanese Knotweed rhizome beneath the ground - anybody who tells you that they can is lying. It is possible to give an estimate, it is possible to say ‘in our experience’ but you cannot say exactly what you are going to find until you start to excavate.

It is not possible to say that you will kill Japanese Knotweed in an exact timescale. You cannot possibly guarantee that the plant will be dead in a set amount of time – YET – I have known our competitors give a definitive timescale for eradication (one even quoted… ‘It will be dead by July the 15^th’  duuuh) and suggested that building on top of the plant will be acceptable….!

Japanese Knotweed is NOT like anything else.

Its not bricks or timber, it’s not concrete that conforms to setting rules – IT’S A PLANT…a complete bugger of a plant – on which pages and pages of legislation have been written.

Do you REALLY think that if it was easy to kill and easy to give an exact date for its death, that so much paperwork would have been written and so much legislation in place – if it was that easy?

You might not always get the answer that you want to hear, but you will at least know it’s the truth.

Speak the experts.

Speak to JKSL.

Mike C

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Foot and Mouth …and Psyllid Aphids…!

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

I’m beginning to think that the best part of the Blog is coming up with new headlines to grab your attention…

However it does make a serious point.

Before setting up Japanese Knotweed Solutions I ran a landscape maintenance company which dealt with a series of sites throughout the North West of England.

The company was reasonably successful and had an enviable client list including Peel Investments, the Manchester Ship Canal Company, British Airways and several of the larger superstore chains.

When the Foot and Mouth epidemic hit the country - the Government took quick decisive action and resolved the situation – despite the problems caused to a whole range of companies.

Countryside access was simply stopped – not allowed…

The grounds maintenance section of the company that I ran… simply stopped work! You weren’t allowed on site….therefore no works could be carried out, nothing could be invoiced – big problems- no money!!!

The point I’m getting at here - is that IF the Government could be as decisive with Foot and Mouth..WHY OH WHY…..can’t they get a bit more decisive with Japanese Knotweed (and other non native species)….!!

Instead of introducing an Aphid…. which MIGHT or MIGHT NOT reduce the Japanese Knotweed problem – and MIGHT or MIGHT NOT introduce a WHOLE SET OF OTHER PROBLEMS..

WHY NOT – SIMPLY – change the legislation relating to Japanese Knotweed.

Why not make it a legal requirement FOR LANDOWNERS to do something about it….

Surely that’s simpler and LESS RISKY than introducing another ALIEN SPECIES WITH NO NATURAL ENEMIES?? (The last Alien species we introduced with ‘no natural enemies’ – was Japanese Knotweed…)

Followers of this Blog will note – I am supportive of the Governments initiative for JK control using the Psyllid Aphid – it’s going to happen… so let’s get on board with the strategy…however… I do still question whether it is the best answer.

Mike C

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Two Superpowers meet – for a little light lunch….

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

In these days of aggressive marketing and criticism of ones competitors it’s nice to occasionally forget all the sniping and stop for a bit of lunch…

So last week I met with Nick Hartley from TCM (arguably our major competitor?) and had a pizza…

Interestingly both companies are very busy - which given the continued economic doom and gloom is a positive message - and both companies are looking forward to a positive 2010.

I believe that the ‘knotweed contractors’ are a good indicator of the way the economy is going - brown field site clearance is very much at the front of development and Japanese Knotweed clearance is often the first part of site works (…you often can’t really do anything until you’ve sorted the Japanese knotweed!).

Both companies have a different take on what is the best strategy for development sites - TCM push the ‘sifting’ method which involves separation of rhizome from the bulk of the waste materials using sub contract labour - thus reducing the amount taken to landfill.

We here at Japanese Knotweed Solutions feel that off site removal to landfill should only ever be a last resort - and favor strategies carried out by in house staff - that keeps material within site boundaries wherever possible.

JKSL also have doubts about the possible re-growth from sifted material. The sifting process goes down to 10mm sifted - which given the often repeated phrase… ‘a piece as small as a fingernail can re grow’ - may be a cause for concern…?

Nick also mentioned a bunch of other ideas that they had in the pipeline such as the Taylored Wetland and Aquatic Treatment Service (or TWATS) that they now offer…

Enough said.

Sorry couldn’t resist.

Posted in Japanese Knotweed Info | 4 Comments »

Over 640 years of Experience….!

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

Is it just me or does this sound a stupid comment to make? How do you arrive at having 640 years experience…? Do you just employ (or franchise) a number of people then look at how old they are and multiply that to get experience…?

My Dad is 78 so does that mean if I employ him I get 78 years experience ….NO…my Dad knows nothing about invasive weeds - and he still thinks Himalayan balsam is Japanese Knotweed no matter how many times I’ve told him …so he didn’t get the job.

Yes…. im having a rant again at franchised companies..the 640 years experience is used in a ‘report’ used to try and give the impression of knowledge. Its amazing what can be achieved with a bit of cut and paste, a bit of Google….and some coloured markers

Unfortunately even with 640 years of experience the company in question has been working on a site in Scotland where trees and shrubs have been sprayed with Tordon - immediately adjacent to a watercourse. For those of you who don’t know the technicalities of chemical usage - that’s a BIG - NO NO - that’s a residual herbicide being used illegally. It would appear from the information available that it was simply a mistake.

Unfortunately the idea of chemical competence is that you don’t confuse the chemicals….

The trees were dead.

The shrubs were dead.

The Japanese Knotweed was still very much alive  ….duuuh

Perhaps the sprayer operative was actually 640 years old - blind and stupid??

Posted in Japanese Knotweed Info | 2 Comments »

Release of Psyllid Aphids - OK I admit…I was Wrong…Sorry..

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Posted in Japanese Knotweed Info | 1 Comment »

Japanese Knotweed breaks through Dinosaur Land…

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

I just wanted to write that headline….

However there is some truth in the story…apparently if you go on the train ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach you will see Japanese Knotweed breaking through from Dinosaur Land…how cool is that!!

Obviously there is a serious message here - though the images of dinosaurs and scary rides keep flying through my mind so I cant concentrate..

Maybe it should be a headline of ‘scariest ride just got scarier with the attack of Japanese Knotweed’ or maybe we should be focusing on the possible damage to foundations that Japanese Knotweed can cause…imagine what it could do to the Pepsi Max ride (I’m probably totally out of date with that name)..

Anyway - think about it next time you’re screaming for your life on a death defying cable car or speeding on a rollercoaster…what if the foundations are damaged by JK roots - could be interesting.

Have you seen the film Final Destination???

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Why Cant SomEAbody get Organised….AND kick Japanese Knotweeds Ass…?

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Whilst on a site visit this morning I got talking to am interesting gentleman on the problems of invasive weeds and how they are tackled.

We were discussing that it is still NOT an offence to have Japanese Knotweed on your land and at the moment… NOBODY has the power to make land owners do anything about an infestation… UNTIL it grows into an adjoining property.

So in a nutshell - nobody makes you do anything about knotweed until it’s too late!!! Duuuuh…

We both agreed that a more concerted effort should have been made several years ago to wipe out Japanese Knotweed before it got such a strong foothold in the UK.

He then went on to tell the story of a parasite that infected dairy cattle some thirty years ago. The parasitic fly would lay eggs into the cows flesh - the resulting maggot would then burrow through the skin to emerge through a hole on the skin - then hatch into a new fly and start all over again. The cows were caused great distress but also the hides were deemed useless as they were riddled with holes. This obviously had a cost implication and people were losing money….

SO… SOMEBODY then got organised…and sent out letters and warnings and instructions about treatment options….AND EVERY COW IN THE UK…YES EVERY COW…. Was rubbed with a chemical which prevented infection and eradicated the fly…massive job with a huge effort involved…

For those in the know about this - I’m sure I have simplified what happened …but the principle remains the same.

A problem was identified and a united approach agreed to which everyone HAD to go along with…

WHY CANT THIS HAPPEN WITH JAPANESE KNOTWEED?

WHY CANT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGISTS AGREE A UNIFORM APPROACH…?

LET’S MAKE IT TOUGH FOR JAPANESE KNOTWEED - LET’S MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO HAVE IT ON YOUR LAND…!

LET’S FIGHT BACK!

Posted in Japanese Knotweed Info | 1 Comment »