0161 723 2000
8AM to 5PM
0161 723 2000
8AM to 5PM
I’m Stuart, the new surveyor on the team. Let me get you up to speed on who I am and my experience:
I have always had a passion in the natural environment and the countryside. I love being outdoors and have watched far too many wildlife documentaries for my own good.
My passion and curiosity about the natural world led me read Biology at Manchester Metropolitan University. Studies focussed on ecology, conservation and animal behaviour culminating in a field trip to Tanzania. Still not enough, I spent a summer in North Cyprus on a marine turtle conservation project gaining hands on conservation experience.
Natural England was the next step in my career in environmental conservation, I worked for 6 years as a Lead Conservation and Land Management Adviser in rural Essex and then in the North West. Helping farmers and land owners access environmental funding through Higher Level Stewardship schemes aimed to manage and protect the countryside, as well as setting up habitat restorations projects with the likes of National Trust, Wildlife Trusts, RSPB and Local Councils. I worked with landowners to give advice on the management of our nationally designated sites, our Sites of Scientific Interest.
Working in this field, I have first-hand experience of the damage that Non-Native Invasive Species can bring. Huge areas of important and rare habitat are under threat from a whole host of invasive plants, animals and insects. This bugs me a lot. Outside of work I like to go walking, camping, and spending time with friends in nice beer gardens (British weather permitting!)
One of our senior Site Foremen recently highlighted an article from America, which is typical of a number of articles appearing on less well-known sites across the web. The article expressed concerns about glyphosate-based herbicides, and the toxicity of glyphosate when combined with other chemicals (known as adjuvants) in a variety of formulations similar to those which are widely available over the counter in the UK.
Glyphosate-based herbicides are also widely used in the UK amenity and agriculture sectors; over 80% of herbicides applied in the UK contain glyphosate, and the majority of the products will contain other chemicals known as ‘adjuvants’, which are there to increase the effectiveness of the herbicide – including by breaking down oily coatings on the plant’s leaves, aiding absorption, improving the miscibility of the concentrate with water, or by reducing foaming in the tank.
I took some time to review some of the articles, and aside from some questions about the methodology of some of the studies, and the conclusions which the articles’ authors drew from their results, the main thing that I noticed was that all the articles referred to issues in America. Another thing that I noticed was that these articles seemed to suggest that the adjuvants contained in the products did not form part of the testing regime there.
Responsible stewardship of pesticides in the UK does not rely solely on the behaviour of contractors, farmers and landowners – although there are numerous duties and responsibilities placed on all of these stakeholders both by law and by best practice.
The UK also has a regulatory framework which ranks as one of the most stringent in the world, with the government, arm’s-length bodies, autonomous organizations and stakeholders all participating in an open, visible and highly-regulated process.
The Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) is part of the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and regulates and approves pesticide products (or “plant protection products”) for use in the UK. Companies wishing to bring pesticide products to market must go through several stages of scrutiny, presenting large amounts of evidence, based on lengthy studies.
What’s more, the UK’s regulatory frameworks falls within the EU’s own regulatory framework [link – http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/topics/pesticide-approvals/eu/european-regulation/regulation-of-plant-protection-products-in-europe.htm], which has clearly demonstrated that it has the will, not just the power to impose tough restrictions against the will of the UK – bans on Azulam and on neonicotinoid pesticides being just two examples.
The CRD acts on behalf of the UK in Europe, and works closely with the European authorities in the multi-layered process of approving both the active ingredient (e.g. glyphosate) at the European level, before individual plant protection products are tested “in formulation” in separate countries. This means that not only are the active ingredients in the herbicide tested, but the products are tested exactly as they will be applied – including the adjuvants in the formulation – before they are approved for use.
JKSL have participated in such testing in the past, and although we have never had any issues with any of the products that we have tested, our feedback has always been actively sought, and taken on board by the testing teams.
All in all, this means that all of the relevant concerns raised by the articles I read are already directly addressed by the UK regulatory system – and there are channels both in the UK and EU for new evidence to be presented.
Additional concerns have been addressed over the persistence of glyphosate in genetically modified (GM) crops. Currently no GM crops are currently grown in the UK. However, if licences are granted for the growing of GM crops here in future, one would expect that measures already in place for the use of herbicides in crop production would be sufficient to ensure that any residue levels would fall well within the already-established accepted levels.
Such measures include the requirement for any plant protection product used to treat food crops to specify pre-harvest intervals on the label (the minimum amount of time which must pass between the last application of any plant protection product and the harvesting of the produce).
When it comes to professional products (which can only be applied by land-owners or qualified individuals), the product label specifies usage constraints which are legally enforceable requirements for use – not simply guidelines.
JKSL have used a number of herbicides and adjuvants in the thirteen years that we have been trading (and longer, for some of our team), generally with good results, always without any reported adverse health effects, and of course, without environmental incident!
Our professional, fully-qualified Spray Operatives are in the process of being added to the new BASIS Spray Operatives Register (formerly the National Spray Operatives Register – NaSOR). Our staff and work to industry guidelines including the INNSA Standards and the Amenity Assured Standard following industry best practice and using their considerable knowledge and expertise to deliver a safe, reliable and effective service.
More importantly in terms of Health and Safety, Japanese Knotweed Solutions implement robust risk control measures following regular, detailed risk assessments covering both health and safety and environmental risks to safeguard our employees and our clients at all times. We supplement our team’s basic spray training with continuous professional development; with regular briefings and regular updates on new chemical herbicides; with new equipment and with new approaches.
Our team help us to improve too – feeding back on the effectiveness of their works, the new products which we bring in from time-to-time and any concerns raised by our clients and the wider community. They talk to us about safety and technique, and they help us to improve our safety, efficiency and our business.
What’s more, we take innovation and Research & Development seriously too: Japanese Knotweed Solutions was one of the first companies in the UK to use the stem injection technique for treating Japanese knotweed, and we pioneered many of the mechanical remediation techniques currently used in the industry.
We are also the only company to offer the patented MeshTech treatment for Japanese knotweed, which kills Japanese knotweed in-situ, requiring minimal maintenance and using no herbicide at all.
This holistic approach – from the regulation of central government to oversight and policing by a variety of official agencies, to the due diligence of main contractors, and all the way down to the actions of well-trained individuals like our Site Operatives – is what has helped the UK to maintain a strong safety record on pesticide use.
Industry self-policing on pesticides has also had notable effects – including the UK-wide campaign on metaldehyde use, which has so far prevented the withdrawal of a potentially problematic pesticide by encouraging and educating users as to how it can be used safely.
This shows how the industry can respond to changes in the European regulatory framework by improving safety and performance from the bottom up.
Are JKSL concerned about the safety of the herbicides we use? Absolutely!
We care as a company and as individuals about our environment, and we will continue to review the available evidence, continue to follow the letter and spirit of the law and will continue to meet and improve industry best-practice.
Do we have any doubts about the safety of the herbicides that we use? Absolutely not.
We are confident that (when used as directed) the products that we use are safe – safe for our clients, safe for our team and safe for our environment.
The sun is out, and the weather finally looks like summer!
This is the perfect time to get out and help with local initiatives to reduce Himalayan balsam – one of the most widespread and environmentally damaging invasive species in England.
Himalayan balsam loves river corridors, areas of bare land, and woodlands (despite the relatively low light) – anywhere where its seeds can bed in, and quickly take over. Himalayan balsam is adept at crowding out native species, developing dense monoculture in summer – and bare soil in the winter, when the plant has died back. This bare soil is prone to erosion, and can cause problems and loss of habitat for native insects, mammals, birds and fish species.
Himalayan balsam is an annual plant, with a small, shallow root system. It grows up to three metres tall, and in late summer, produces seed pods which explode on contact – spreading the seeds up to seven meters through the air – and allowing them to reach water, and to be carried along for significant distances. Each plant dies completely at the end of the growing season each year, and infestations are maintained only through the seed bank – which can remain active for two years.
Using proper oversight, timing and controls, combinations of excavation and herbicide treatment are possible in most cases, and are generally effective – however, more sustainable and environmentally friendly measures are available, including strimming and hand-pulling.
Many voluntary organisations, parks and local councils organise teams of volunteers to head out each year at around this time (and often even after the plant has flowered), to pull the plant up by its roots – killing it before it has had chance to create seeds. If carried out repeatedly over the years, this can be an extremely effective means of control, and is basically completely environmentally friendly (so long as you don’t tread on any rare orchids or great crested newts!).
The main consideration when carrying out this type of works is to avoid contravening the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to cause or allow Himalayan balsam to spread in the wild, and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (and Controlled Waste Regulations 2012), which stipulate how such plant waste should be managed if removed from site. You should always consult a competent professional before undertaking works involving invasive species, but in short, the measures volunteers need to take are:
Do clean the treads of your footwear, wheelbarrows and your tools and equipment etc. before moving from an infested area – this will prevent you from carrying seeds to infestation-free areas.
Don’t do anything to the plant once the seed heads have begun to form – you could spread the seeds. Inadvertently. Don’t remove any waste from the area that it was found – just pull the plant up, and place it back down where it was, with the roots out of the ground (or create a single stockpile in the middle of an infested area).
Do wear hats, appropriate clothing, sunscreen, knee pads and anything else you need to stay comfortable and safe while working outdoors. So why not see if your local park or woodland has a volunteer scheme in place? It’s a great chance to get some gentle exercise in the sun and improve your local environment without spending a penny.
Any volunteer organisations who would like advice on managing Himalayan balsam should contact Invasive Weed Solutions on 0161 723 2000 or [email protected]
Amenity Assured Standard August 11, 2015Japanese Knotweed Solutions Limited (JKSL) is proud to meet and support the Amenity Assured Standard.
The Amenity Assured Standard is a benchmarking scheme run by BASIS [Registration] Ltd. – the independent organisation set up to establish and assess standards in the UK pesticide industry.
BASIS maintains the Amenity Assured register of companies who can demonstrate that their operating methods comply with best-practice for pest control in amenity situations. In the words of BASIS:
“These methods respect and incorporate high regard for safety to the public, the environment, for water protection and cost-effective programmes of work”
UK invasive species trade body INNSA requires its members to be accredited to the Amenity Assured Standard – as well as to adopt the INNSA Code of Practice, work to the INNSA Standards [http://www.innsa.org/the-innsa-standards.html] and meet strict membership criteria [http://www.innsa.org/membership-accreditation-criteria.html] – to ensure that only the best invasive species contractors in the UK can display the INNSA badge.
The Amenity Assured Standard is highly relevant to the invasive species control industry, as many of the most damaging non-native species in the UK are plants such as Japanese knotweed and Rhododendron ponticum, and water-based species, including killer shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus), zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides).
While it is rare to encounter these water-borne species in the course of amenity works, invasive plant species such as Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed are all commonly found in amenity settings, near watercourses, and in environmentally sensitive areas – meaning that ensuring protection for the public, the environment and our watercourses is paramount.
It is critical that pesticide use and invasive species management are carried out responsibly. The Amenity Assured Standard is defined in conjunction with the Amenity Forum, NPTC and the NAAC and recognised by the UK Chemicals Regulation Directorate, meaning that it meets the standards set by many of the most important and most highly-recognised authorities in the field of UK pest management.
To demonstrate compliance with the Amenity Assured Standard requires submission of a comprehensive audit questionnaire covering all aspects of pesticide management within the organisation, and also requires an on-site visit and audit of the company’s operational standards. An unannounced visit to an active site should be carried out at least once a year for every company on the register. These requirements go well beyond the minimum legal requirements, and ensure best practice from all Amenity Assured members.
Once satisfactorily completed, these checks must be repeated on an annual basis, and non-compliant organisations will be suspended or have certification withdrawn.
As part of our industry-leading approach, Japanese Knotweed Solutions spray operatives are in the process of being registered with the new BASIS Spray Operatives Register (formerly NaSOR). All of our Site teams undergo training and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to ensure that they are aware of new developments, and performing to the best of their abilities.
Our BASIS-certified Managing Director and Operations Manager implement and oversee a strictly controlled, ISO:9001 and ISO:14001-accredited management system to ensure that JKSL comply with all relevant best practice guidelines for working in the invasive species industry, and managing our works in amenity, construction, civil engineering and housebuilding scenarios.
Furthermore, you can count on JKSL and any INNSA Contractor Member to deliver a cost-effective, high standard of works when carrying out works for domestic clients. The same processes and safeguards are applied for all JKSL’s works – regardless of who our clients are.
Japanese Knotweed Solutions and INNSA acknowledge that a key part of best practice is to adequately address customer concerns, and the Amenity Assured Standard requires the proper recording of and responding to customer issues, using the INNSA Complaints Procedure.
Amenity Assured Membership is available to any contractor working in the UK, and further information can be found on the BASIS website, www.basis-reg.com.
INNSA Membership is available to any UK Consultant, Contractor or affiliate, and further information can be found on the INNSA website, www.innsa.org.
A full list of all UK companies certified to the Amenity Assured Standard can be found online, www.basis-reg.co.uk.
Did you Pull this Weekend? August 11, 2015The sun is out, and the weather finally looks like summer!
This is the perfect time to get out and help with local initiatives to reduce Himalayan balsam – one of the most widespread and environmentally damaging invasive species in England.
Himalayan balsam loves river corridors, areas of bare land, and woodlands (despite the relatively low light) – anywhere where its seeds can bed in, and quickly take over. Himalayan balsam is adept at crowding out native species, developing dense monoculture in summer – and bare soil in the winter, when the plant has died back. This bare soil is prone to erosion, and can cause problems and loss of habitat for native insects, mammals, birds and fish species.
Himalayan balsam is an annual plant, with a small, shallow root system. It grows up to three metres tall, and in late summer, produces seed pods which explode on contact – spreading the seeds up to seven meters through the air – and allowing them to reach water, and to be carried along for significant distances. Each plant dies completely at the end of the growing season each year, and infestations are maintained only through the seed bank – which can remain active for two years.
Using proper oversight, timing and controls, combinations of excavation and herbicide treatment are possible in most cases, and are generally effective – however, more sustainable and environmentally friendly measures are available, including strimming and hand-pulling.
Many voluntary organisations, parks and local councils organise teams of volunteers to head out each year at around this time (and often even after the plant has flowered), to pull the plant up by its roots – killing it before it has had chance to create seeds. If carried out repeatedly over the years, this can be an extremely effective means of control, and is basically completely environmentally friendly (so long as you don’t tread on any rare orchids or great crested newts!).
The main consideration when carrying out this type of works is to avoid contravening the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to cause or allow Himalayan balsam to spread in the wild, and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (and Controlled Waste Regulations 2012), which stipulate how such plant waste should be managed if removed from site. You should always consult a competent professional before undertaking works involving invasive species, but in short, the measures volunteers need to take are:
Do clean the treads of your footwear, wheelbarrows and your tools and equipment etc. before moving from an infested area – this will prevent you from carrying seeds to infestation-free areas.
Don’t do anything to the plant once the seed heads have begun to form – you could spread the seeds. Inadvertently. Don’t remove any waste from the area that it was found – just pull the plant up, and place it back down where it was, with the roots out of the ground (or create a single stockpile in the middle of an infested area).
Do wear hats, appropriate clothing, sunscreen, knee pads and anything else you need to stay comfortable and safe while working outdoors. So why not see if your local park or woodland has a volunteer scheme in place? It’s a great chance to get some gentle exercise in the sun and improve your local environment without spending a penny.
Any volunteer organisations who would like advice on managing Himalayan balsam should contact Invasive Weed Solutions on 0161 723 2000 or [email protected]
Government Gives up… August 11, 2015There has been a real flurry of activity recently over a ‘Government spokesman’ saying that they had ‘given up’ in the fight against Japanese Knotweed (JK)….given up? …when did they even start?
I must have missed the bit when the Environment Agency were tasked with ridding the world of Japanese Knotweed and it was number one on their ‘hit list’. The truth is the Government have NEVER had an effective policy to fight JK. They had the opportunity probably about 40 years ago – when the JK invasion was in its infancy and the ‘establishment’ phase of the invasion was just starting – they could have introduced legislation to outlaw any new stands of JK that appeared and just stamped it out*.
Instead of heeding the advice from concerned individuals they ignored the problem until 1981 when the ‘Wildlife and Countryside Act’ was introduced where under ‘schedule 9’ it was made illegal to … ‘plant or otherwise cause Japanese Knotweed to grow in the wild’. Here was a key point in the history of Japanese Knotweeds growth and spread in the United Kingdom. Had the legislation at that point made it illegal to allow landowners to have knotweed growing …on their land ….then maybe we wouldn’t all be in this situation.
Of course I’m simplifying the situation to a point where some minister for the environment simply stamps ‘DECLINED’ on a funding application from somebody lower down the food chain – I’m sure it wasn’t that simple. Maybe in a budget meeting a group of senior Environment Agency staff were discussing finance allocation – and one person said … ‘we are getting a lot of complaints about that Japanese Knotweed’ ….then the next person said … ‘there has been loss of life in a flooding incident in Carlisle’ …and immediately…. everybody (understandably) forgets about the invasive plant problem.
The problem that you have as a minister in charge of allocating budgets – if a NEW problem occurs…you don’t have any budget to deal with it! I am constantly mystified as to how our ‘tax dollar’ gets spent…? A recent article in the Times highlighted £700 million being sent to a charity (all good so far) who fought against AIDS and Malaria (very worthy)….who are building a new headquarters building on the edge of Lake Geneva (highest land values in Switzerland??) and whose staff were all paid in excess of £200,000.00 …( er wtf)…the article went on the point out that the nets provided to help keep out mosquitoes were being used for fishing and that ‘concerns had been raised’ about whether any aid was actually getting to the people that needed it.
Today’s paper highlights £40 million being spent on a children’s charity that has ‘financial irregularities’…illegal immigrants being given bank loans to attend university, houses, hospital care…benefits…. the list just goes on and on…
Now don’t get me wrong – I’m not a complete bastard – and I know that these are not simple issues….BUT ….all I’m saying is how about the odd million being spent on OUR BRITISH environment?
How about the odd million to prevent British children every year being scarred for life by Giant Hogweed?
How about homes for our native plants and animals being provided rather than housing some extended family from Kazakhstan who has no intention of ever doing anything other than helping themselves to our benefits system? I’m just saying…that’s all.
Mike C
*NB I know it’s not that easy…but it would have been a damn site easier before the plant got so well established
