Japanese Knotweed

Japanese Knotweed is a highly invasive non-native plant in the UK, posing a risk to property and the environment.

 

It is not an offence to have Japanese Knotweed on your land, but it is an offence to allow it to spread to the wild and not to dispose of soil/waste contaminated with Japanese Knotweed appropriately. The Environment Agency (EA) are the regulatory authority for such offences.

The UK government has information and guidance on Japanese Knotweed which includes contact details for the Environment Agency.

If you have seen Japanese Knotweed on public land or land adjacent to public land within the borough of Gravesham, please contact Horticultural Services Team so they can consider appropriate action.

 

Please be aware that if you are concerned that Japanese Knotweed present on private land, may spread to neighboring private land, then this would be a private civil matter between the respective landowners. In such an event we recommend that you speak to your Building Insurer who can then contact your neighbour on your behalf.