Mike Clough's Japanese Knotweed blog

We shall fight them on the beaches….

April 21st, 2010 by Mike Clough

The new JKSL advertisement is about to hit the press.

Using the famous Winston Churchill quote we re-visit the ‘hand’ concept which has proved such a talking point amongst our clients.

I feel that the words very much define our approach to non native species –

… ‘we shall fight them on the beaches, we shall fight in the fields, and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we will never surrender…’.

For several years now I have been trying to rouse the public into a sort of Dunkirk spirit – to fight back against the invading hordes (of invasive weeds)…

Maybe this advert will appeal to that British’ness that we all seem to have forgotten. Instead of the English arguing with the Scots, or the Welsh or the Irish lets get a united front against plants that are taking over our British Countryside.

Lets fight back …

Lets protect our shores…

Lets dig for Britain – but be very careful where you put the contaminated waste.

Mike C

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All money to charity….

April 14th, 2010 by Mike Clough

Be warned all you would be copyright thieves…!

Japanese Knotweed Solutions take our marketing and branding seriously.

As a business owner you expect the odd member of your team to leave, move on, set up on their own etc. There isn’t much you can do about it so you don’t bother getting stressed.

What does however annoy more than anything is when they leave then try and copy everything that you do!

They copy your website, they copy your photographs and have even been known to use testimonials from projects that they haven’t even worked on!

So…enough is enough.

I set Christine Oxenburgh from Garvins onto a couple of them just to see what satisfaction could be gained. And lo and behold not only has she made them take the pictures off their websites, not only has she had the copied text removed – she has had her expenses paid and a donation made to charity!!

So let this be a warning to those that can’t be bothered doing their own web site or their own photographs.

When you copy our stuff – YOU DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK - we will do something about it!

Mike C

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What is it with British people and wishing people bad luck?

April 7th, 2010 by Mike Clough

I have been a lucky man. I don’t deny the fact and often repeat the phrase to people who listen.

My life has had its ups and downs and it hasn’t been easy – but overall if you were to draw a line and say… bad points go below the line, good points go above – then most of my life would be in the above line section.

I don’t take myself too seriously and hope that I don’t come over as a prat – yes I like nice cars…but what the hell… I do a lot of driving and Ive worked hard to get to a point where I can have these things.

I employ 24 people and treat each and every one of them with respect and as an individual. I employ just as many men as women and run a totally equal company paying people and treating people exactly the same whatever their sex. I don’t consider myself above brewing up, or picking litter up from the yard, or getting the lunch in – I even have been known to actually enjoy spending time with the team at JKSL.

OK I’m a bit opinionated and I have an arrogant streak – but how the hell can you run a business without being arrogant. If you constantly listen and take everyone’s advice you end up with decisions by committee which just results in bland design and mediocre service…which just isn’t me.

What I’m getting at here is that I have my faults - but basically I’m a nice bloke running a small business to the best of his abilities.

So why is it that so many people have been happy to tell me that they think I will be put out of business by the Governments bio –control programme?

And why is it they all ask with the same stupid smirk on their faces??

Why is it that British people want you to fail??

It’s always the small minded, corporate employed, dark suited – nobodies, or teachers (bizarrely) that seem to want you to fall flat on your face.

Well here’s a message to all of those people wishing me ill … even if I do fail – at least I’ve lived…. at least I’ve tried…and more much more than this…

I’ve done it my way.

Mike C

…and so…the end is near…as I approach …the final curtain

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So what is the best way to get rid of Japanese Knotweed…?

March 31st, 2010 by Mike Clough

It’s the blog you’ve all been waiting for…Mike Clough finally gives the game away, finally tells the big secret.

Probably the biggest factor to be aware of is the ***** beneath the **** structure.

Whilst the main ***** of the parent plant are ********* to attack by ***** the result would be catastrophic to the plant should the ***** seam beneath the ***** leaf up from the basal **** be broken. Application of ******** herbicide at the ********concentration, applied to the **** will cause immediate death of the plant.

So that’s it then.

No more Knotweed problems….just computer problems. The ****ing *** button seems to be jammed…?

Odd.

Mike C

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Flexible Warranties? – you got it…

March 24th, 2010 by Mike Clough

Here at Japanese Knotweed Solutions we are always trying to put the customer first.

One of the questions that we keep being asked is ‘can you offer flexible term warranties?’ – well – now we can.

You want a six month warranty – no problem.

You want a 20 year warranty – no problem

You want a warranty until the property has been sold – you got it!

For the most flexible terms including a payment plan to suit your needs - just ask Japanese Knotweed Solutions.

From March 1^st our surveyors have been briefed to tailor our product to exactly what the customer requires. We still offer ten year insurance backed warranties (still unique to the market despite what ‘other’ companies are saying on their websites) and we still offer the best value on a ‘like for like’ basis when comparing us with other service providers.

So try us out – ask us for something unique – ask us for exactly what you want!

Mike C

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Who Decides What’s in the News??

March 17th, 2010 by Mike Clough

So the 9^th of March was the BIG day at Japanese Knotweed Solutions, finally the Government decision to release a bio-control agent in the United Kingdom.

Don’t be fooled this is a big decision – this could have a major impact on all of our lives.

IF this doesn’t work and it all goes wrong we could be plagued by a biblical proportion epidemic of aphids which munch their way through every native plant in the country.

Ok,ok – its probably not going to happen – but it could – and we should all be aware of it.

 However… what do we get on the news on the day of the decision…a good fifteen minute section on footballers conversations being taped in a hotel.

Can you imagine the content??

… ‘are yer awright Wayne, av yer gor any comics ter lewk art – am fookin bawd..less go ler off a fire stuinguisha and chuck telly art de winda..’

Hardly top notch cutting edge news??

The point of this blog is that maybe someone should be a little more selective as to what is covered – we don’t want Iraq and football everyday.

Japanese Knotweed is a major issue – let’s get some coverage.

Mike C

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Release of Psyllid Aphids

March 9th, 2010 by Mike Clough

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
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Body Found…

March 3rd, 2010 by Mike Clough

Occasionally our teams think that life on site is tough. Weather conditions, awkward site agents (Wigan), mud, water, gas pipes, electric cables, BT connections, rats, newts, lizards, poor access, dangerous buildings – the list just goes on and on.

But… spotted in the papers recently – on a project on which we did actually provide a price – a dead body found in a stand of Japanese Knotweed!

So just when you think that you have had every problem that life can throw at you –

To read the full article click here.

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Sorry - Just Not Technical Enough…!

February 24th, 2010 by Mike Clough

Apparently our Seminars are just not technical enough – this was a comment from an unnamed source from one of our legislative environmental groups -  when asked why he wasn’t attending our seminar in March. He had actually been told by his superiors - not to attend

Well forgive me for taking offence – but – surely we all need to be talking about the issues relating to release of a bio-control agent. Let’s get people to discuss non native species – let’s broaden the dialogue and get developers and local authorities educated.

I believe that part of the problem with our Governing bodies that they are all too bloody insular. Unless you are actually in DEFRA or spend weeks ploughing through their tedious website – it’s very very difficult to keep track of what’s going on and what decisions are being made.

The majority of the general population doesn’t even know that DEFRA exists, let alone what it stands for or even what it does. When one attends conferences and seminars held by these ‘boffins’ very few people attend and those that do – already know about the issues and probably wrote a thesis on the subject.

Yet - when the Public were consulted about the potential release of the Psyllid aphid – only 66 people responded….and three of those were from Japanese Knotweed Solutions!

So FORGIVE me if I’m not technical enough - but we have seventy people coming to our seminar – which is four more than responded to the Public consultation.

Sorry for the rant – but I’m disappointed that our legislative bodies are so narrow minded.

Wouldn’t it have been a perfect opportunity to broaden the audience and get the message out amongst a different set of people? Rather than just talking to yourselves – get out amongst the people that pay your wages.

Mike C

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Mike Clough – the brand…

February 17th, 2010 by Mike Clough

So who am I?

I’m just a man who’s intentions are good – please don’t let me be misunderstood… - I think that may be a song lyric – but it sums me up.

I seem to have managed to cultivate an image of being a hard nosed business man – …but it wasn’t always that way…

fading lights and dreamy music…

I originally studied to gain a degree Landscape Architecture, then did a Post Graduate Diploma in Landscape Design.

Whilst doing the Post grad course I decided to set up a Design and Build practice and began to carry out high quality Design works throughout the UK. The company expanded to eventually have a team of 6 landscape Architects and 18 site based lads.

As part of the package we offered maintenance work on all of our sites – it was at this time that I began to study invasive non-native plants. I travelled throughout the UK talking about the problems alien species caused – and getting a feel for the issues surrounding invasives.

It quickly became clear to me that alien species were here to stay - and here to cause major problems for construction….

I gained a reputation as being Mr Japanese Knotweed …and so I set up Japanese Knotweed Solutions.

The same lads that had worked for me carrying our landscape works had all the required skills to tackle invasive weeds – chemical treatment and spray certificates, machine licenses, rope access, chain saw license holders – so it was an easy change of direction…

So really I’m just a bloke who saw a problem – and thought – that’s going to become an issue!

The rest is history.

Mike C

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