0161 723 2000
8AM to 5PM
0161 723 2000
8AM to 5PM
I’ve spent an awful lot of time telling people about the problems associated with Japanese knotweed. This has involved setting up a company to deal with the problem and multiple public presentations and seminars all to raise public awareness.
I have written websites, I’ve written marketing material and I’ve even re-written the environment agency code of practice updates as the INNSA code of practice. Come to think of it I even set up INNSA (The invasive Non-Native Specialists Association) the preferred trade body for competent knotweed companies …
So, as I’ve said – a lot of time telling people about this problem plant.
Some 20 years or so after setting up Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd and feeling that the general public were beginning to grasp the issues around invasive non-native species, I last week found myself watching a government revue, a parliamentary committee even – talking down the problems and ‘expert’ stating that the plant is less of an issue than sycamore or buddlejia.
Holy crap.
I could not believe what this ‘industry expert’ was saying.
Talk about mixed messages.
Finally, we have a world where people are not only aware of invasive non-native species but they have been actually doing something about the problems. Finally, we have a world where the profile of problem plants has been raised to a level where people are actually NOTICING.
Then some idiot does a ‘study’ and says – ‘you know what…Japanese knotweed is not a problem…’
Jeez.
What the hell are the general public supposed to think?
What the hell are the developers who have been looking for a ‘get out’ clause to avoid dealing with their problem plants going to think?
They’ve been trying to avoid paying for weed control and for a way out of Japanese knotweed removal …. and low and behold the ‘expert’ serves it up to them on a platter.
Fucking moron.
I give up.
Mike C
