Invasive Species

“When non-native species become invasive they can transform ecosystems, and threaten native and endangered species. All terrestrial and marine natural and semi-natural habitats are affected. Invasive non-native species also damage economic interests, such as agriculture, forestry and infrastructure, and can threaten public health”. - DEFRA, Review of non-native species policy, Report of the working group (2003)

“Thus the problems caused by invasive non-native species are serious; so serious that the introduction of invasive non-native species is identified as one of the main causes of biodiversity loss worldwide. This includes the loss of the distinctive local biodiversity that makes each area special. With increasing global trade and world travel, these problems are likely to continue to grow”. – DEFRA, Review of non-native species policy, Report of the working group (2003)

BlueSky Environmental Solutions can provide a tailored service based on your exact requirements - from initial surveys and management plans right through to implementation and maintenance.

Our services include control measures for the following species:

• Japanese knotweed - crowds out native flora and impacts on other wildlife such as insects, causes problems in respect of flood management and damage to property, even growing through tarmac.
• Giant hogweed. The stems, edges and undersides of the leaves bear small hairs containing poisonous sap, and the slightest touch causes painful blistering and severe skin irritation.
• Himalayan balsam (also known as, Indian balsam ) - control measures should aim to prevent flowering and if this is achieved before seeds are set, eradication is possible in two to three years.
• Floating pennywort or Australian swamp stonecrop (also known as, New Zealand pigmyweed) - both grow vigorously all year round and out-competes native vegetation. If left untreated they will eventually destroy the pool.
• Rhododendron - it spreads rapidly and regenerates from small fragments of material and poses a real threat to woodland regeneration and biodiversity.
• American mink - a voracious predator that has had serious impacts on the declining native population of water voles.
• Grey squirrel - major damage to forestry and has completely displaced the native red squirrel from most of England and Wales.
• Rabbit - it has been estimated that the national cost of cereal loss due to rabbits can reach £ 40 million/year.
• Bracken – a major threat to our heathlands
• Common ragwort - if ingested by horses, ponies and other livestock, ragwort causes cumulative liver damage and can have potentially fatal consequences

Some species, such as Japanese knotweed has legislation to prevent the further spread by human activities, soil contaminated with it, has to be treated as controlled waste and cannot be removed from a site without a waste license. For further information please follow this link to the
Environment Agency – The Knotweed Code of Practice.

Under the Weeds Act 1959 the Secretary of State may serve an enforcement notice on the occupier of land on which injurious weeds are growing, requiring the occupier to take action to prevent the spread of injurious weeds. These are:

• Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
• Creeping or field thistle (Cirsium arvense)
• Curled dock (Rumex crispus)
• Broad leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius)
• Common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)

Injurious weeds can be controlled using a number of chemical or cultural means. Care should be taken to choose the most appropriate method for the specific circumstances of each site. This applies particularly to sites of special conservation interest where control of the injurious weeds may risk damaging rare or valuable flora and fauna.

Our advisors can provide you with a tailored service for all of the species listed above including many other species not mentioned on our website. Please contact us to discuss your exact requirements.