Mike Clough's Japanese Knotweed blog

Stand up and Shout about it….!

September 12th, 2008 by Mike Clough

Japanese Knotweed is here to stay - how many times do I have to tell people!

Last week I gave eight (yes… count them) presentations to various authorities, councils and developers - as part of CPD (Continued Professional Development) training - all wishing to learn more about management and eradication of Japanese Knotweed.

This week I have given a presentation at the Lancaster Environment Centre as part of our continued links with the University and Envirolink Northwest.
The audience consisted of interested professionals and members of the contaminated land remediation sector.

Anybody wishing to have a presentation or discuss Japanese Knotweed or other invasive weeds please contact Mike Clough or Helen Todd on 0161 723 2000.

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So invasive weeds? Getting a little ‘old hat’ a little ‘last years news’?

September 1st, 2008 by Mike Clough

I have been writing and talking about invasive weeds for seventeen years now and quite honestly at times I feel like a broken record!

Since its introduction to the UK in 1820 JK has proven time and again its ability to massively challenge the British Countryside – I often drive through scenic Derbyshire or Cheshire and make note of new Knotweed infestations, photograph them and send a letter to the local authority (Mr Angry!) – pointing out that it is far easier to kill newly established knotweed than to allow it to establish…

I am yet to get any response as my letters fall on deaf ears…(latest letters have gone to Bakewell, Glossop and Knutsford)

We have looked toward the EA for guidance and leadership with regards invasive weeds, unfortunately this has proved sadly lacking..even on their own projects they still deal with JK and other invasives in a piecemeal fashion.

If you look at the current Code of Practice the EA states that it is: ‘their job to look after your environment and make it a better place – for you, and for future generations’

With reference invasive weeds I would charge them with a massive failure to perform!

Posted in Invasive Weeds Info, Japanese Knotweed Info
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Japanese Knotweed – We Can Kill it Instantly!

August 26th, 2008 by Mike Clough

So what do you believe?

Is it three to five years as quoted in the Environment Agency guidelines…? Or three years…or 12 months…or could it be 3 months or is it three weeks or could it be INSTANT DESTRUCTION!!

The truth is, it is NONE of the above! It depends on so many factors that it is impossible to predict with any degree of accuracy…THAT’S WHY IT’S SUCH A PROBLEM…!

Anybody that tells you any different is wrong.

There are companies out there who are making some very time specific promises as to what can and can’t be achieved in set timescales. They are lying. Sorry; it’s as simple as that. How can anyone promise to deliver a clean site within weeks of chemical spraying when it could rain for each of those weeks? How can anyone promise a clean site in weeks when they haven’t even seen the site…! Tiny fragments of Japanese Knotweed can lay dormant in the ground for months and even years only to re-grow when climate conditions change or they are subject to disturbance…(or due to factors that we are yet to understand!)

Think of it this way…Japanese Knotweed can survive an active volcano. An active volcano is the most powerful force on earth. Do you really think a couple of blokes with a sprayer will kill it in a matter of weeks.

For expert advice and accurate timescales for eradication call Japanese Knotweed Solutions.

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Insurance Backed… Smoke and Mirrors!

August 18th, 2008 by Mike Clough

I’ve written about this before and no doubt will do so again…..

We have recently asked our insurance company to carry out a survey of what our competitors are offering regarding warranties and guarantees… and can confirm that the majority don’t actually have anything at all!

If you go onto the search engine websites and request information on Japanese Knotweed you will be bombarded by companies who have copied our website, copied our text, copied our photographs and even copied the wording on our tagline! ‘Insurance backed guarantee’ seems a favorite catch phrase to pull people in…

However… do not be fooled, do not be taken in – check what their warranties really are! Ask the questions – how much does your warranty cover? Who is the guarantor? Are the company directors personally guaranteeing the work?

Professional indemnity cover will not pay for re-growth of Japanese Knotweed, public liability insurance will not cover for re-growth of Japanese Knotweed.

Each and every insurance backed warranty that we give is PERSONALLY GUARANTEED by the Managing Director Mike Clough and backed by HCC International Insurance Company PLC

This means that in the worst case scenario if Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd were to cease trading - then I personally would be liable for any costs incurred in treating re-growth of Japanese Knotweed on your site. If I were not able to fund these costs then our insurance company guarantees that funds will be available to cover any shortfall.

Compare that to what others are offering…then call us – the original Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd.

Where we lead others follow.

Posted in JKSL, Warranty
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Japanese Knotweed Kills UK Countryside

August 12th, 2008 by Mike Clough

I recently attended a sponsor’s day organised by the Wild Trout Trust on the Haddon Estate. The day was arranged to launch the Trout in the Town Initiative see www.wildtrout.org. One of the guest speakers made a bold statement that … ‘Himalayan balsam kills trout’ which I initially dismissed as  provocative words meant to get a reaction from the audience.

He then went on to explain that Himalayan balsam grows to the detrement of our native species, spreads unchecked along river banks and crowds out our native plants. Over winter the balsam dies back and with only shallow roots does not retain the river banks on which it thrives. Thus during times of flood river banks are eroded, silt blocks the flow of the river and ruins spawning beds – hence … ‘Himalayan balsam kills trout’.

This got me to thinking maybe a way to get people to sit up and take notice would be to describe the effects of Japanese Knotweed (JK) in a similar way … ‘Japanese Knotweed kills the British Countryside’.

Japanese Knotweed grows to the preclusion of all of our native species, nothing predates on Japanese Knotweed, nothing lives within Japanese Knotweed, nothing lives on Japanese Knotweed. Huge monoculture stands spreading at a phenomenal rate are already engulfing our beloved countryside.

Look in your garden, look in your road, look on your local river, look in any waste ground….get to know what it looks like…be a JK Spotter!

Stand up and be counted…do something…fight back…are you lost and don’t know what to do….?

Contact Japanese Knotweed Solutions for directions!

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There will be blood!

August 1st, 2008 by Mike Clough

Make no mistake its tough out there…

Japanese Knotweed Solutions as a stand alone company have been trading since 2002 however the Directors have been around for a much longer time. Mike Clough qualified as a Landscape Architect in 1980 and has run a Landscape Design practice since that time. During this period the world has been through a series of ups and downs with the economy being like a roller coaster.

As a company Director you get to roll with the punches and have to make difficult decisions at times to ensure that the Company survives. It is these decisions that make or break the business and divide the ‘wheat from the chaff’.

Some Companies will not survive the current trading conditions and will make the wrong decisions about how to weather the current tightening of the market.

Do you really want a recurring invasive weed problem being dealt with by somebody who won’t be around next year?

Japanese Knotweed Solutions offer ten year insurance backed warranty which will cover the costs of any problem that you may have – even if we are no longer around!

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Family Run & Owned, Daughter on reception!

July 31st, 2008 by Mike Clough

As the continued demand for the services of Japanese Knotweed Solutions continues to rise (even in these difficult times) a new voice is heard answering the phones!

Japanese Knotweed Solutions is wholly owned by Mike Clough with support form co-director Pam Clough and in true family tradition Jamie my eldest daughter will be on reception during Summer 2008 taking a break from studies at Manchester doing a Degree in Fine Art.

Anyone calling during this period please take pity on her…. the boss makes her work hard for very little money!…(and she has to brew up)

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Science not Sales

July 15th, 2008 by Mike Clough

Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd (JKSL) does not employ salesmen, we don’t have a sales team and we don’t have sales meetings or even sales targets…

I set up Japanese Knotweed Solutions as a stand alone business having come from a background as a landscape architect. I had often come across Japanese Knotweed on site and been amazed at its ability to spread and survive standard weed control. Japanese Knotweed can lay dormant on site for years then suddenly re-grow through tarmac, concrete and often building foundations! Japanese Knotweed is extremely difficult to control – that is why there is such strict legislation in place and such heavy fines for those that ignore current legislation.

As demand for our services has grown I have expanded the business from the point of providing quality of service and a huge amount of experience in invasive weed management. Nobody at JKSL goes on a ‘sales course’, but everybody has to work in the field and get hands on experience in control and eradication of invasive weeds. Nobody gets to talk to our customers unless they have the experience to do so, and nobody will tell you something that isn’t true – just to get an order!

As such we come at this from the point of view of giving our customers the best and most viable answers to dealing with Japanese Knotweed without the need for salesmen or sales tactics.

Japanese Knotweed doesn’t conform to sales targets and doesn’t perform the same way on each and every job – that’s why we offer a ten year insurance backed warranty for peace of mind – and thats why we are the number one service provider for Japanese Knotweed eradication.

Don’t believe the sales hype – this is a complex and difficult plant to eradicate – not double glazing!

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Fighting Alien Species!

July 9th, 2008 by Mike Clough

It may sound dramatic but its war out there!

A recent site description by a client included the following introduction: ‘…where there isn’t Japanese Knotweed there is Giant Hogweed, where there isn’t Giant Hogweed there is Himalayan balsam and anything that’s left is covered with Ragwort…’ . This wasn’t a site in the middle neglected countryside this was brown field land in the centre of London!

When describing ‘alien’ plants to clients one often jokingly describes Japanese Knotweed as being like a ‘triffid’ (for those of you too young to remember this was a 1951 John Wyndham horror book/TV show - about a man eating plant). The joky reference belies the serious nature of a Japanese Knotweed infestation which can have devastating effects on both development sites and on native flora and fauna.

Japanese Knotweed grows to the preclusion of all native species and causes serious damage to hard surfaces and building foundations. The fight is taken up by teams of qualified sprayers and environmentalists who armed with toxic chemicals spray and inject poisons into the alien plants.

It may not be star wars or even rocket science but unless the aliens are stopped dead in their tracks there will be little of our native countryside left to enjoy.

For a battle plan – speak to Mike Clough Commander in Chief – Alien busters – on 0161 723 2000

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Tough times, Creative solutions!

July 2nd, 2008 by Mike Clough

When you first come across a Japanese Knotweed infestation on a site that you have bought most clients are horrified at the potential cost implication and delays that can be caused.

We have often seen people turn a sickly shade of grey when told that a three year delay is inevitable or an off site removal bill running into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Chemical treatment is the most cost effective treatment option however this can take between three and five years of repeat spraying to achieve total eradication. The shortest timescales can be offered by off site removal of waste to a licensed facility however it is this option which is the most prohibitively expensive.

Some of the more recent additions to the ever growing list of Japanese Knotweed eradication companies offer untried solutions with tempting timescales, silly acronyms and cheap prices. However before accepting the lowest price, remember Japanese Knotweed would not be such a problem – if quick cheap solutions were available!

Strict legislation is in place to try and halt the spread of Japanese Knotweed and is the threat of legal action and heavy fines that ensures that developers must comply with the Environment Agency (EA) Code of Practice for Management and Eradication of Japanese Knotweed.

Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd (JKSL) are more than aware of the current market conditions and have come up with a series of practical tried and tested solutions to keep projects on budget and timescales for development on track.

Keeping strictly within the EA Code of Practice JKSL will provide the most economic solution at the most competitive price to ensure that problem weeds do not put a stop to your development plans.

We have ways of making even the most difficult sites work and want you to benefit from our unmatched experience in this field.

Please speak to Mike Clough or Alex Dayes on 0161 723 2000

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