dendro-scott™ root barrier - managing japanese ......4 how do i use root barrier membranes? 20 4.1...

Managing Japanese knotweedon development sites

the knotweedcode of practice

EA Japanese Knotweed Cover SETUP 12/9/06 5:42 pm

on

The Environment Agency wish tothank Defra and Network Rail for theircontribution towards the cost ofproduction of this code.

Managing Japanese knotweedon development sites

the knotweedcode of practice

EA Japanese Knotweed Cover SETUP 12/9/06 5:21 pm Page 3

We are the Environment Agency. It’s our job to look after yourenvironment and make it a better place – for you, and forfuture generations.

Your environment is the air you breathe, the water you drinkand the ground you walk on. Working with business,Government and society as a whole, we are making yourenvironment cleaner and healthier.

The Environment Agency. Out there, making your environmenta better place.

Published by:

Environment Agency

Rio House

Waterside Drive, Aztec West

Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4UD

Tel: 0870 8506506

Email: [email protected]

www.environment-agency.wales.gov.uk

© Environment Agency

All rights reserved. This document may be reproduced with

prior permission of the Environment Agency.

Published - September 2006.

EA Japanese Knotweed Cover SETUP 12/9/06 5:21 pm

Contents

Contents 02

Summary 04

Introduction 05

ManagingJapaneseknotweed–legislation 06

Thestatusofthiscode 08

Tipsfordevelopers 09

1 EcologicalinformationonJapaneseknotweed 10 1.1-WhatisJapaneseknotweed?

1.2-WhatdoesJapaneseknotweedlooklike?

1.3-Regeneration

1.4-Dispersal

1.5-WhydoIneedtomanageJapaneseknotweedonmydevelopmentsite?

FlowchartfortreatingJapaneseknotweed 12

2 HowdoIpreventJapaneseknotweedspreading? 13

2.1-Avoidingcontaminationaroundthesite

2.2-Goodsitehygiene

2.3-Avoidingnewcontaminationtothesite

2.4-Reusingtreatedsoilsonsite

3 HowdoImanagemyJapaneseknotweedproblem? 15

3.1- Japaneseknotweedmanagementplans

3.2-Herbicidetreatment

3.3-WhichherbicideshouldIuse?

3.4-Combinedtreatmentmethods

4 HowdoIuserootbarriermembranes? 20 4.1-Cellformation

4.2-Protectingstructuresandhardsurfaces

4.3-Preventinghorizontalspread

4.4-Protectingservices,etc

5 HowdoItreatordisposeofJapaneseknotweedonsite? 28 5.1-CuttingJapaneseknotweedcanes

5.2-Burning

5.3-Excavation

5.4-Theburialmethod

5.5-Thebundmethod

6 HowdoIdisposeofJapaneseknotweedoff-site? 32 6.1-Arrangementsforlandfill

6.2-Dutyofcareforhauliers

Contents

7 HowdoImovesoilcontainingJapaneseknotweed? 34

7.1- Movingsoilon-site

7.2- Movingsoiloff-site

7.3- Decontaminatingvehicles

8 HowwillJapaneseknotweedaffectusingthesiteinthe 35

longterm? 8.1-ManagingburiedJapaneseknotweedinthelongterm

8.2-Controllingpotentialregrowtharoundthesite

8.3-Advicetonewowners

8.4-WhatdoIdoifJapaneseknotweedstartstogrowthroughtarmac

andotherengineeredsurfacesandstructures?

8.5-HowdoIstopJapaneseknotweedfromneighbouringproperties

reinfestingthesite?

8.6-HowdoItreatJapaneseknotweedregrowthamongstvaluable

shrubsandplantingschemes?

9 Sourcesofadditionalinformation 38 9.1-Additionalinformation

9.2-Someusefulresources

Glossary 41

Appendix

I AguidetoidentifyingandexcavatingJapaneseknotweedrhizome i)WhatisJapaneseknotweed?

ii)WhatisJapaneseknotweedrhizome?

iii)WhyisitimportanttobeabletoidentifyJapaneseknotweedrhizome?

iv)HowdoIrecogniserhizome?

v)HowdoIremoverhizome?

II Root/rhizomeidentificationchart

III Root/rhizomeidentificationchart–othercommonplants

IV TableforidentifyingJapaneseknotweedrhizome

V TemplateJapaneseknotweedmanagementplan

VI AnexampleofaJapaneseknotweedmanagementplan.

VII Restrictedaccesssign

2 Environment AgencyManagingJapaneseknotweedondevelopmentsites Environment AgencyManagingJapaneseknotweedondevelopmentsites3

Summary

Thiscodereplaces“TheEnvironmentAgencycodeofpracticeforthemanagement,destructionanddisposalofJapaneseknotweed”May2001.

This code of practice will help developers manage Japanese knotweed legally. It also gives you options for cost effectively managing Japanese knotweed on site. Architects, planners, designers, contractors, consultants and landscape gardeners can also use this code.

JapaneseknotweedFallopia japonica var japonica isanon-nativeinvasivespeciesofplant.SinceitwasintroducedintotheUKasanornamentalgardenplantinthemid-nineteenthcenturyithasspreadacrosstheUK,particularlyalongwatercourses,transportroutesandinfestedwasteareas.

Plantswithintheirnativerangeareusuallycontrolledbyavarietyofnaturalpestsanddiseases.Whentheseplantsareintroducedintonewareasthatarefreefromthesepestsanddiseases,theycanbecomelargerandmorevigorous.Theyinvadenaturalhabitatsandout-competethenativeplantsandanimalsthatnormallylivethere.Rivers,hedges,roadsidesandrailwaysformimportantcorridorsfornativeplantsandanimalstomigrate,andlargeinfestationsofnon-nativeweedscanblocktheseroutesforwildlife.

Japaneseknotweedisn’tjustaproblemforournativewildlife.Thevigorousgrowthcandamagebuildingsandhardsurfaces.Onceestablishedunderneathoraroundthebuiltenvironment,itcanbeparticularlyhardtocontrol.RiversideJapaneseknotweeddamagesflooddefencestructuresandreducesthecapacityofchannelstocarryfloodwater.

Footpathsbecomecrowdedwithtallcanes,makingitdifficultforpedestrianstoseeandmakingthemfeellesssafe.Inwinter,thetalldeadcanesshow

wherelitterhasbecomecaughtupandratscanlivethere.Lawnsandgardensbecomeinfestedandthecostofmaintainingbuildingsincreases.

ThereareanumberofwaysinwhichwecanmanagetheimpactofJapaneseknotweed.ItisimportantthatwefindoutthewaysinwhichJapaneseknotweedhasbeenspreadandtrytotacklethese.DisposingofsoilfromdevelopmentsitesisonewayJapaneseknotweedhasspread.

Brownfielddevelopmentisanimportantaspectofurbanandruralregenerationandprotectinggreenbelt.ManyofthesesitessupportinfestationsofJapaneseknotweed,whichcanliveinpoorsoilqualityandcontaminationcommontotheseareas.Thesesiteshaveoftenbeenusedtoreceivewaste,oftenfly-tippedbygardeners.

IntroductionPurposeThiscodehasbeenwrittenforanyoneinvolvedinthedevelopmentandhaulageindustrywhomayencountersiteswithJapaneseknotweed,orsoilcontainingit.Itallowsourstafftoprovideconsistentadvice.

ManaginglandinfestedbyJapaneseknotweedinatimelyandappropriatewaycanavoid:

• excessivecost

• potentialprosecutionand/orcompensationclaims

• physicaldamagetobuildingsandhardsurfaces

• harmtotheenvironment.

IdentifyingJapaneseknotweedonasiteearlyletsdevelopersassessandcostoptionsfordestroying,disposingofandmanagingit,aswellasnegotiatinganappropriatechangeinthepurchasepriceoftheland.

YoushouldkeeptheamountofJapaneseknotweed-infestedsoilyouexcavatetoaminimum.

MakingsureyourstaffcanidentifyJapaneseknotweedrhizomecanreducewastecostsandimprovehowyoumanageJapaneseknotweedonsite.

DonotaccepttopsoiluntilyouhaveinspecteditforJapaneseknotweedrhizome.

Japaneseknotweed-infestedsoilthathasbeentreatedcanbereusedforlandscapingthesite,butshouldnotbetakenoffsite,unlesstolandfill.

DesignatingaclerkofworkstooverseetheJapaneseknotweedmanagementplanisagoodwayofensuringthatcontractorstreatJapaneseknotweedinanappropriatemanner.

YouhaveachoiceofherbicidesthatareeffectiveagainstJapaneseknotweed,dependingonyoursituation.

ItisanoffencetoplantorcauseJapaneseknotweedtospreadinthewildundertheWildlifeandCountrysideAct1981andallwastecontainingJapaneseknotweedcomesunderthecontrolofPartIIoftheEnvironmentalProtectionAct1990.

Youcangetadviceonmanagingwastefromusonourcustomerservicesline;08708506506

Ifyouseeanyoneillegallymovingordisposingofwaste,callourincidenthotlineon;0800807060.


ManagingJapaneseknotweed-legislationLegislationcoveringthehandling

anddisposalofknotweedincludes

thefollowing:

The Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986requireanypersonwhousesapesticidetotakeallreasonableprecautionstoprotectthehealthofhumanbeings,creaturesandplants,safeguardtheenvironmentandinparticularavoidthepollutionofwater.ForapplicationofpesticidesinornearwaterapprovalfromtheEnvironmentAgencyshouldbesoughtbeforeuse.

Section14(2)oftheWildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA 1981)statesthat“ifanypersonplantsorotherwisecausestogrowinthewildanyplantwhichisincludedinPartIIofSchedule9,heshallbeguiltyofanoffence.”JapaneseknotweedisoneoftheplantslistedintheSchedule.AnyoneconvictedofanoffenceunderSection14oftheWCA1981mayfaceafineof£5,000and/or6monthsimprisonment,or2yearsand/oranunlimitedfineonindictment.

TheEnvironmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA 1990)containsanumberoflegalprovisionsconcerning“controlledwaste”,whicharesetoutinPartII.AnyJapaneseknotweedcontaminatedsoilorplantmaterialthatyoudiscard,intendtodiscardorarerequiredtodiscardislikelytobeclassifiedascontrolledwaste.Themostrelevantprovisionsarein:

section33(1a)and(1b)whichcreateoffencestodowiththedeposit,treating,keepingordisposingofcontrolledwastewithoutalicence.Exemptionsfromlicensingareavailableinsomecircumstances,andaresetoutinSchedule3totheWasteManagementLicensingRegulations1994asamended(theWMLR1994)s.33(1c)whichmakesitanoffencetokeep,treatordisposeofcontrolledwasteinamannerlikelytocasepollutionoftheenvironmentorharmtohumanhealth.

section34placesdutiesonanypersonwhoimports,produces,carries,keeps,treatsordisposesofcontrolledwaste.Wastemustbehandledresponsiblyandinaccordancewiththelawatallstagesbetweenitsproductionandfinalrecoveryordisposal.Wastemustbetransferredtoanauthorisedperson,inotherwordsapersonwhoiseitheraregisteredcarrierorexemptedfromregistrationbytheControlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) Regulations 1991.Awastetransfernotemustbecompletedandsignedgivingawrittendescriptionofthewaste,whichissufficienttoenablethereceiverofthewastetohandleitinaccordancewiththeirowndutyofcare.TheprovisionsconcerningwastetransfernotesaresetoutintheEnvironmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991(asamended).Failuretocomplywiththeseprovisionsisanoffence.

TheHazardous Waste Regulations 2005 (HWR 2005)containprovisionsaboutthehandlingandmovementofhazardouswaste.Consignmentnotesmustbecompletedwhenanyhazardouswasteistransferred,whichincludedetailsaboutthehazardouspropertiesandanyspecialhandlingrequirements.Ifaconsignmentnoteiscompleted,awastetransfernoteisnotnecessary.UntreatedJapaneseknotweedisnotclassedashazardouswaste,butmaterialcontainingknotweedwhichhasbeentreatedwithcertainherbicides,maybeclassifiedashazardouswaste.

TheWaste Management Licensing Regulations 1994describe‘wasterelevantobjectives’inParagraph4ofSchedule4.Theseobjectivesrequirethatwasteisrecoveredordisposedof“withoutendangeringhumanhealthandwithoutusingprocessesormethodswhichcouldharmtheenvironmentandinparticularwithout–risktowater,air,soil,plantsoranimals;orcausingnuisancethoughnoiseorodours;oradverselyaffectingthecountrysideorplacesofspecialinterest”

Theabovelegalprovisionshaveconsequencesforarangeofpeople,includinganybodyinvolvedinthemanagementordisposalofknotweed.Forexampleknotweedwhichiscutdownorexcavatedandremovedfromadevelopmentsitemustbetransferredtoanauthorisedperson,andcorrectlydescribed.Itmustbedisposedofappropriately,assetoutbelowinthisCode.Ifyouaregoingtoburyknotweedonthedevelopmentsiteyouwillneedtoconsultusfirsttomakesurethatthematerialdoesnotcontainanyothercontaminantthatmayaffectthequalityofgroundwater.Ifyoupollutetheenvironmentorcauseharmtohumanhealthyoumaybeprosecuted.Anyonewhousesaherbicidemustensurethattheydonotpollutethewaterenvironmentandtheuseofherbicidesinornearwaterrequiresapprovalfromus.

Ifanywastesoilorknotweedissentforlandfilleitherbeforeorafteranytreatment,itmustgotoalandfillthatisauthorisedtoreceiveit.

ItisnotanoffencetohaveJapaneseknotweedonyourlandanditisnotanotifiableweed.AllowingJapaneseknotweedtogrowontootherpeoplespropertymayberegardedasaprivatenuisanceundercommonlaw,butthiswouldbeacivilmatter.

OurroleTheEnvironmentAgencyisresponsibleforregulatingwaste.Wegrantwastemanagementlicences,registerexemptionsandcantakeenforcementactionincludingprosecutionifthelawisnotcompliedwith.WegiveapprovalsundertheControlofPesticidesRegulations1986foruseofpesticidesinornearwater.

WemaytakeenforcementactionunderWCA1981,buttherearealsoanumberofotherorganisationsthatcandoso.Wewouldnotnormallyusethislegislationunlessawasteoffencehadalsobeencommitted.

We are not responsible for controlling Japanese knotweed, other than that growing on our land. Managing knotweed is the responsibility of the owner/occupier of a site. We do not endorse Japanese knotweed management plans, or endorse companies that do this.


Whereyourelyonthemethodsofonsiteknotweedmanagementinparagraphs4.1,5.4and5.5thiswouldnormallyrequireyoutohaveawastemanagementlicenceorapollutionpreventionandcontrolpermit.

Howeverifyoucarryouttheseactivitiesinfullaccordancewiththiscodeofpractice,andtheworkmeetsthewasterelevantobjectivesdescribedabove,theninaccordancewithourEnforcementandProsecutionPolicywewouldnotnormallyprosecuteforfailuretohaveawastemanagementlicenceorpermit.

ThestatusanduseofthisCodeProvidedthereisasuitablelocation,thiscodedescribeswaysofmanagingJapaneseknotweedthatdevelopersmaywishtoconsider,whichwillavoidcreatingawastedisposalproblem.WearekeentoprovidealternativesthatallowdeveloperstotreatJapaneseknotweedonsite,soyoudon’thavetouselandfill.Landfillisveryexpensiveforthedevelopmentindustry,itreducesvaluablelandfillcapacityandneedshaulage,whichdamagestheenvironmentandincreasestheriskofJapaneseknotweedspreading.Sometimes,duetoshortageoftimeandlocation,landfillistheonlyreliableoption,butitshouldbetreatedasalastresort.

ThereareanumberofwaysofmanagingJapaneseknotweedwithinadevelopmentsite.SitemanagersneedtobecarefulofclaimsmadeaboutproductsandmethodsonofferforcontrollingJapaneseknotweed,particularlythosethatclaimitcanquicklydestroytheproblemcompletely.

Wecannotguaranteethatanyofthemethodswedescribeinthiscodewillbesuccessful.Webelievethemethodswithinthiscodeareamongthebestthatarecurrentlyavailable,butdonotreflectthecompletechoicethatisavailable.Thecontractorandclientneedtoagreeacontractforeffectivelytreatingtheproblem.RememberthatJapaneseknotweedcanstaydormantformanyyears.

Youmaywishtousethiscodeofpracticetoassistyouincarryingoutyourlegaldutiesconcerningknotweed.Howeverthiscodedoesnotconstitutelegaladviceanditdoesnotaimtogiveadetailedorcomprehensiveaccountofthelegislationthatcouldapplytoyou.Youshouldbeawarethatisyourresponsibilitytomakesurethatthelawiscompliedwith.Wastelegislationisespeciallycomplex.Youneedtodiscusstheseissueswithustomakesureyouactappropriately.

Ifyouneedadvice,callourcustomer

serviceslineon08708506506.Ifyou

seeanyoneillegallymovingordisposing

ofwaste,callourincidenthotlineon

0800807060.

Muchoftheinformationinthiscodeconcerningon-sitetreatmentoptionsisaimedatsuggestingbestpracticeratherthansettingoutlegalobligations.

ThiscodeshouldbeusedinconjunctionwithotherguidanceorregulationsconcerningJapaneseknotweedifrelevant,suchasthemodelspecificationandtenderdocumentsproducedbytheformerWelshDevelopmentAgency,nowpartoftheWelshAssemblyGovernment.

TipsfordevelopersWehopethat,bydevelopingthiscode,wewillhelpindustrytoavoidexcessivecosts,

protecttheenvironmentandusenaturalresourcesinasustainableway.Wewould

encouragedeveloperstoconsiderthefollowingparticularpoints:

Check for Japanese knotweed before buying a site.

a) Theinformationandinternetlinkswithinthis codeshouldbeenoughforyoutofindoutabout Japaneseknotweedinitsvariousforms.Ifthere isJapaneseknotweedonasite,thisshouldnot stopyoubuyingit,butyouwillneedtoconsider thiswhenworkingouthowprofitablea developmentislikelytobe.

b) Ifasitehasbeenskimmedortreated,lookfor evidenceofJapaneseknotweedmaterial. Considersomeformoflegalprotectionfromthe potentialsubsequentcostofmanagingJapanese knotweedwithinthepurchaseagreement.

c) IfthereisJapaneseknotweed,considerwhether youwillbeabletotreatthematerialonsite. Haveyouboughtenoughspacetoshiftsoiland createabund,forinstance?

d) IfyouthinkthereisnoJapaneseknotweedon thesite,considergettinglegalguaranteesthat saythisbeforeyoubuythesite.

Timetable for treatment and development.

a) PlantominimisetheamountofJapanese knotweedthatyouhavetoexcavate.

b) Makesureyouhaveallocatedenoughtime withintheprojecttimescaletodevelopandapply aJapaneseknotweedmanagementplan.

c) TreatingJapaneseknotweedearlyandeffectively cansignificantlyreducethechanceofitgrowing again.Youshouldagreeandimplementa treatmentplanassoonaspossible.

d) Considerphasingthedevelopment,toallow moretimetotreattheproblem.

e) Usethebestmethods,includingthemost effectiveherbicidesforthesiteinquestion. Thiswillbedeterminedbyfactorssuchashow closethesiteistocontrolledwatersand desirabletreesandothervegetation.

Managing treated material.Justbecausesoilhasbeentreated,thisdoesnotmeanJapaneseknotweedcannotgrowagain.However,ifsoilistreatedeffectively,itcanbecleanenoughtobeusedforlandscapingwithinthedevelopment.

Youshouldonlyusetreatedsoilinlocalisedareas,whereJapaneseknotweedcontrolmethodscouldeasilybeused,ifmaterialstartstogrowagain.Weadvisethatyoushouldnotusetreatedsoilwithin50mofawatercourse.

Long-term management.YouneedtoconsiderthechancethatJapaneseknotweedcouldgrowbackwhenyouaremanagingthesitelong-term.

Currentownersofthesiteneedtoaccuratelyrecordwithinthedeedsofthepropertywhereanymaterialisburiedandmakethisavailabletoallsubsequentownerssothematerialisnotdisturbed.

Asummaryofthetreatmentshouldbeincludedwithinthevendorstatementdeclaration.


Spring

Winter

Development site for sale. Would you have spotted the telltale dead winter canes that indicated this site was infested with knotweed?

1.1 What is Japanese knotweed?Japaneseknotweedisatall,vigorousornamentalplantthatescapedfromcultivationinthelatenineteenthcenturytobecomeanaggressiveinvaderintheurbanandruralenvironment.

1.2 What does Japanese knotweed look like?Japaneseknotweed,scientificnamesFallopia japonica(Houtt.RonseDecraene),Reynoutria japonica(Houtt.)orPolygonum cuspidatum(Siebold&Zuccarini)isamemberofthedockfamily(Polygonaceae).Itisarhizomatous(producesundergroundstems)perennialplantwithdistinctive,branching,hollow,bamboo-likestems,coveredinpurplespeckles,oftenreaching2-3mhigh.Theleavesofthematureplantareupto120mminlengthwithaflattenedbaseandpointedtipandarearrangedonarchingstemsinazig-zagpattern.Theplantflowerslateintheseason,AugusttoOctober,withsmallcreamy-whiteflowershanginginclustersfromtheleafaxils(pointatwhichtheleafjoinswiththestem).Theundergroundrhizomesarethickandwoodywithaknottyappearanceandwhenbrokenrevealabrightorange-colouredcentre.Therhizomesystemmayextendto,andbeyond,adepthofatleast2mandextend7mlaterallyfromaparentplant.

Duringwinter,theleavesdiebacktorevealorange/browncolouredwoodystemswhichmaystayerectforseveralyears.Stemandleafmaterialdecomposesslowly,leavingadeeplayerofplantlitter.DuringMarchtoApril,theplantsendsupnewshoots,red/purpleincolourwithrolledbackleaves.Theseshootsgrowrapidlyduetostorednutrientsintheextensiverhizomesystem.Growthratesofupto40mmadayhavebeenrecorded.

1.3 RegenerationOnlyfemaleJapaneseknotweed(F. japonica var japonica)plantshavebeenrecordedtodateintheUK.Althoughseedsareproduced,theyarenottrueJapaneseknotweedseedsbuthybrids,andrarelysurvive.

EcologicalinformationonJapaneseknotweed

Zig-zag pattern Purple speckles

Alternate leaves

August - October flowers

2-3 metre high canes

Spring Growth

TwospeciescloselyrelatedtoJapaneseknotweedarealsofoundintheUK.Theseare,giantknotweed(Fallopia sachalinensis),amuchtallerplantwhichreachesaheightof5m;andasmallercompactvariety(Fallopia japonica var. compacta),whichgrowstoaheightofonly1m.Thehybrid(Fallopia x bohemica)(acrossbetweenJapaneseknotweedandgiantknotweed)isalsofoundthroughouttheUKbutisnotascommonasJapaneseknotweed.BothgiantknotweedandthehybridshouldbemanagedinthesamewayasJapaneseknotweed.

Japaneseknotweedrarelyproducesviableseeds.IntheUKtheplantismainlyspreadthroughrhizomefragmentsorcutstems.Greenhousetrialshaveshownthataslittleas0.7gramofrhizomematerial(10mminlength)canproduceanewplantwithin10days.Cutfreshstemshavealsobeenshowntoproduceshootsandrootsfromnodeswhenburiedinsoilorimmersedinwater.Oncecutstemmaterialhasbeenallowedtodryoutthoroughlyandhasreachedtheorange/brown‘woody’stage,thereisnofurtherregeneration.Rhizomematerialmaytakemuchlongertodieandmayremaindormantforlongperiods,possiblyaslongas20years.

1.4 DispersalThespreadandhighregenerationratesoftheplanthaveseriousimplicationsfordispersalbybothnaturalandhumanmeans.Inrivercatchments,fragmentsofrhizomesorcutstemsthatarewashedintowatercoursesunderhighwaterflowscanformnewplantsdownstream.Fly-tippinggardenwastethatcontainsstemorrhizomefragments,usingcontaminatedtopsoilandtransportingsoilfrominfestedsitesduringconstructionworks

arethemainwaysthatpeoplespreadtheplant.Smallfragmentsofstemandrhizomemayalsobetransferredfromaninfestedsitetoothersitesonmachinery,forexampleforbuildingworksorformaintainingroadverges.

1.5 Why do I need to manage Japanese knotweed on my development site?HabitatsaffectedbyJapaneseknotweedincludethoseinbothurbanandruralareas.Inanurbanenvironment,sitessuchasroadverges,railwaylandandwatercoursecorridorsmaybeaffected.Wasteground,cemeteriesandheavilydisturbedgroundareparticularlyvulnerable.Inruralareas,theproblemsincludedisruptingsightlinesonroadsandrailwaysand,intheriversideenvironment,disruptingflooddefencestructures.Theplantdamagestheurbanenvironmentbypushingupthroughtarmacandpaving,out-competingotherspeciesinplantingprogrammesaspartoflandscapingschemesandcausingaestheticproblemsaslitteraccumulatesinthedensethicketsformedbytheplant.Thisalsoencouragesvermin.

JapaneseknotweedisalsoinvadingcontinentalEurope,particularlyintheeast.ItisalsocausingproblemsonthewesternseaboardoftheUnitedStates.Withinitsnativerange,Japaneseknotweedrarelycausesproblems.

JapaneseknotweedhasbeenremovedfromthenaturalenemiesthatcontrolitinitsnativerangeinJapan.Itout-competesournativeplantsandanimals.ThespreadofJapaneseknotweedisaseriousthreattoourcountryside,andthenativeplantsandanimalsthatrelyuponit.

Hybrid knotweed F.x bohemica

Giant knotweed F.sachalinensis

Dead winter canes


FlowchartfortreatingJapaneseknotweed

ItisimportanttomakesurethatthesiteisnotcontaminatedbyfreshJapanese

knotweed,orthatpartsofthesitepreviouslyunaffectedbyJapaneseknotweeddo

notbecomecontaminated.Werecommendthat:

YES

YES

YES

Is there Japanese knotweed on site? NO

NO

NO

Can the site be treated in the long term (> 3 years)?

Does the infested soil area need to be disturbed?

can the site be treated in the medium-term

(more than 18 months)?

Is there enough appropriate space for a bund (see Section

5.5) for 18 months?

Can a root barrier membrane cell be safely buried at least 2m deep within

the site?

Can the infested soil be buried up to5m deep within the site?

HerbicideRefer to Sections:

• 2 to avoid Japanese knotweed spreading further

• 3 to plan how you will treat it

• 8 for managing in the long term Soil only suitable for reusing on site.

Bund methodRefer to Sections:

• 5 (particularly 5.5) for treatment and Appendix I for guidance on removing rhizomes

• 7 for moving soil


• 8 for managing it in the long term

Soil only suitable for reuse on site.

Burial methodRefer to Sections:

• 5 (particularly 5.4) for treatment and Appendix 1 for guidance on removing rhizomes



• 8 for managing it in the long-term. Do not use a persistent herbicide.

Root barrier membraneRefer to Sections:

• 4 for guidance on using root barrier membrane and Appendix 1 for guidance on removing rhizomes



• 8 for managing it in the longterm.

Do not use a persistent herbicide.

Combined treatmentRefer to Sections:

• 3.4, but also consider Section 4 and 5 options

• 8 for managing Japanese knotweed in the long term. Soil only suitable for reusing on site.

Refer to Sections:

• 2.3 on how to avoid contaminating the site again

• 8.5 if Japanese knotweed is growing near the site.

Herbicide/barrierRefer to Sections:

• 2 to avoid spreading further.

• 3 for treatment

• 4 for containing Japanese knotweed using root barrier membrane, if necessary

Off-site disposalRefer to Sections:

• 6 for guidance on disposal and Appendix I for guidance on removing rhizomes



• 8 for managing it in the long term. Do not use a persistent herbicide.

YES

YES

YES

NO

NO

NO

NO

YES

HowdoIpreventJapaneseknotweedspreading?

i) youhaveaJapaneseknotweedmanagement plan(seesection3.1);

ii) allstaffareawareofwhatJapaneseknotweed lookslikeandwhattheirresponsibilitiesare;

iii) youhaveaclerkofworksresponsibleforthe managementofJapaneseknotweed.

2.1 Avoiding contamination around the siteItisessentialthatyoufindouthowmuchJapaneseknotweedinfestationthereisonthesiteandthateveryoneworkingthereclearlyunderstandsthis.Youshouldbriefallcontractorsfully.YoushouldrecordanyareasthatarecontaminatedwithJapaneseknotweedintheJapaneseknotweedmanagementplan(AppendixVandVI),isolatethemwithfencingandputuparestrictedaccesssign(AppendixVII).Section7describestheprecautionsyouneedtotakewhenmovingsoilinfestedwithJapaneseknotweed.

2.2 Good site hygieneTomaintaingoodsitehygiene,wesuggest:

a) asageneralrule,theareaofinfestationis7m horizontallyfromthenearestgrowthof Japaneseknotweedthatcanbeseen.To determineexactlyhowfartherhizomeshave spread,youwouldneedtodigaseriesoftest pitsandexaminethemcarefully;

b) afencethatcanclearlybeseenshouldmarkout theareaofinfestation.Signsshouldwarn peopleworkingtherethatthereisJapanese knotweedcontamination(appendixVII);

c) youshouldindicatestockpilesofsoil contaminatedwithJapaneseknotweedwith appropriatesignsandisolatethem;

d) youshouldnotusevehicleswithcaterpillar trackswithintheinfestedarea;

e) vehiclesleavingtheareashouldeitherbe confinedtohaulageroutesprotectedbyroot barriermembranes,orbepressurewashed (seesection7.1);

f) vehiclesusedtotransportinfestedsoilsmust bethoroughlypressure-washedinadesignated wash-downareabeforebeingusedfor otherwork;

g) areasinfestedbyJapaneseknotweedthatare notgoingtobeexcavatedshouldbeprotected byrootbarriermembraneiftheyarelikelytobe disturbedbyvehicles(seesection4).Root barriermembraneswillneedtobeprotected fromdamagebyvehicleswithalayerofsand aboveandbelowtherootbarriermembrane, toppedwithalayerofhardcoreorothersuitable materialasspecifiedbyanarchitect orengineer(seesection7.1);

h) thematerialleftafterthevehicleshavebeen pressurewashedmustbecontained,collected anddisposedofalongwiththeotherJapanese knotweedmaterial;

i) aclerkofworksshouldoverseetheJapanese knotweedmanagementplan(appendixV), includingtheprovisionsforavoiding contamination.Everyoneworkingonsitemust clearlyunderstandtheroleandauthorityofthe clerkofworks.


HowdoImanagemyJapaneseknotweedproblem?3.1 Japanese knotweed management plansOnceyoufindJapaneseknotweedonasite,itisessentialthatyousetupsomeformofJapaneseknotweedmanagementplan(KMP).Youneedtoidentifyaclerkofworkstooverseetheplanandyouneedtoletallrelevantcontractorsonthesiteknowhowimportanttheplanis,forexamplethrough‘toolbox’briefingstostaffoperatingonthesite.

ItisimportanttoonlydisturbaminimumamountofJapaneseknotweed.Itisvitalthatyoukeepthiscontaminatedmaterialseparatefromotherwasteandsurplussoilwithinthesite.SoilfreefromJapaneseknotweedandotherwastemaybedisposedofrelativelycheaplyunderexemptionsfromwastelicence.UnlessanareaofJapaneseknotweedislikelytohaveadirectimpactonthedevelopment,youshouldcontrolitinitsoriginallocationwithherbicideoverasuitableperiodoftime,usuallytwo-fiveyears.

AppendixVgivesatemplateofaKMPforreference.Youcanchangethisaccordingtoyourownneeds.AppendixVIgivesanexampleofacompletedKMP.

TheKMPisanimportantdocumentandprovidesavaluablerecordofthetreatmentofthesiteforfutureowners.ItmayalsoprovideevidencethatthesitehasbeenappropriatelymanagedifsubsequentJapaneseknotweedregrowthresultsinlitigationagainstthecontractor.

3.2 Herbicide treatmentItisessentialthatacompetentandqualifiedpersoncarriesouttheherbicidetreatment.ContractorsmusthavetheappropriateNationalProficiencyTestsCouncil(NPTC)certification.Theymustcarefullyfollowtheinstructionsontheherbicidelabel.Youcanonlyusecertainherbicidesinornearwater,andyouneedapprovalfromusbeforeyoucanusethese.

ThemosteffectivetimetoapplyglyphosateisfromJulytoSeptember(orbeforecoldweathercausesleavestodiscolourandfall).Springtreatmentisacceptable,butlesseffective.Triclopyr,picloramand2,4-Daminecanbeusedthroughoutthegrowingseason.Youshouldavoidthefloweringperiodtoprotectbeesandotherpollinatinginsects.Themajorityofherbicidesarenoteffectiveduringthewinterdormantstagebecausetheyrequirelivingfoliagetotakeuptheactiveingredient.Anexceptiontothisruleispicloram,whichcanbeappliedasasoiltreatment.

Rhizomecanremaindormantforaconsiderableperiodafterregrowthhasapparentlystopped,andsoyouneedtocheckifrhizomesarestilllivingbeforedisturbingthesite.Unconfirmedobservationssuggestrhizomecanstayaliveformorethan20years.However,treatingJapaneseknotweedwithanappropriateherbicidecanreduceitsgrowth,evenifitwereonlytreatedafewweeksbeforeitwasdisturbed.IfthetimescaleofthedevelopmentdoesnotgiveyouenoughtimetoeffectivelyeradicateJapaneseknotweedusingchemicals,youshouldstilltreattheplant,ifitisinleaf,assoonaspossible.

YoushouldexpecttouseherbicidetreatmentforatleastthreeyearsbeforeJapaneseknotweedstopsgrowingback.ItisimportanttorememberthatyoucannotrelyjustonherbicidetogetridofJapaneseknotweed.YoumustnotseethelackofregrowthasevidencethattheJapaneseknotweedisnolongeralive.Disruptingtherhizomebydisturbingthesoilislikelytoresultinsubstantialregrowth.

2.3 Avoiding new contamination to the siteThisadviceisparticularlyrelevanttositesfortunateenoughnottobeinfestedbyJapaneseknotweed.

Thethreemostcommonwaysasitecanbecomeinfectedare:

Infestedtopsoil:TherehavebeennumerousincidenceswheresiteownershavepaidtoremoveJapaneseknotweedinfestedsoilfromtheirsite,onlytointroduceitagainwithtopsoiltheyhaveboughtandnotinspected.

SectionN.6.4.5ofBS3882:1994,theBritishStandardfortopsoilclearlystatesthatitiscriticalthatmaterialshouldbefreefromJapaneseknotweedpropagules,rhizomeandvegetativefragments.Youshouldalwaysinspecttopsoilbroughtintothesite,usingtheguidanceinappendixI-IVofthiscode.Youcanoftengettopsoilfromdifferentsources.Ideally,youshouldinspectthesesourcesbeforeyoureceivematerialonsite.Youshouldusetopsoilfromdifferentsourceswithindistinctareasofthesiteandkeeparecordofthis.Thismayhelpyouwithcompensationclaimsagainstthesupplier,shouldJapaneseknotweedsubsequentlygrow.Ifyouhaveanyevidencethatsub-standardtopsoilisbeingsold,youshouldletthelocalTradingStandardsOfficeknow.

Contaminationonvehicles:Youshouldinspectvehiclesbeforeusingthemonsite.Youneedtopayparticularattentiontocaterpillartracksandwheretrucksanddumpersarestowed.

Fly-tipping:MostJapaneseknotweedinfestationsondevelopmentsitesstartedasaresultoffly-tippedwasteandthisoftencontinuesafterthedevelopmenthasstarted.

Youshouldreportanyfly-tipping

incidencestousonthe24-hour

freephonenumber0800807060.

2.4 Reusing treated soils on site IfsoilhasbeentreatedandisfreefromJapaneseknotweedcontaminationandsuitableforuse,itcanbereusedonsitewithouttheneedforawastemanagementlicenceoranexemption.Iftakenoffsite,thismaterialmustbedisposedofinalandfill.

Developersreusetreatedsoilsattheirownrisk,unlesstheagreementtheyhavewiththeircontractorsstatesotherwise.Tominimisethepotentialproblemstherecouldbeifthesoilwasnottreatedadequately,youshouldonlyusesoilagainwherethereislittleriskofspreadingJapaneseknotweed.Thesiteshouldalsofacilitateherbicidetreatment,ifitisnecessary.Suitableareasshouldbeawayfrom:

a) watercourses(weadvise,atleast50m) andditches;

b) beingdisturbedbypeopleorlivestock;

c) existingamenityareas,lawnsandgardens;

d) boundarieswithotherproperties;

e) anareathatcouldbedisturbedinthefuture.

Youshouldalsousethesoilinarestrictedarea,ratherthanspreadoutacrossthesite.YoushouldrecordthisareaintheJapaneseknotweedmanagementplanandkeeparecordofinspection.Youmusttreatanyregrowthappropriately.

HowdoIpreventJapaneseknotweedspreading?

Sub-lethal glyphosate ‘bonsai’ regrowth

First yearregrowth after glyphosate


Thereisincreasingconcernaboutusingpesticides.Itisimportantthatsuitablyqualifiedoperatorsusethesechemicalsappropriately.Whenyouuseaherbicide,alwaysfollowtheinformationonthelabel.Themostimportantquestionstoaskbeforedecidingwhichherbicidetouseare:

3.3.4: What should I use if I intend to bury the material or dispose of it off-site?Ifyouintendtoburythematerialordisposeofitoff-site,youshouldonlyuseglyphosateformulations.Iftherearepersistentherbicidespresent,thiswillpreventyoufromusingburialasaJapaneseknotweeddisposaloption(seesection5.4).Refertopage6-7fordetailsoftherelevantwasteregulation.Ifsentfordisposaloff-site,therequirementsoftheEPA1990s.34andtheDutyofCareRegulationswillhavetobecompliedwithinrelationtothetransferofthewaste.Usingcertaintypesorquantitiesofpesticidecouldmeanthatsoilorplantmaterialisclassifiedas‘hazardouswaste’,andthenyouwouldneedtodisposeofitatahazardouswastelandfill.ItwouldalsohavetobeconsignedandsuitablydescribedundertheHWR2005,whichwouldincludegivingadescriptionofthepesticide.

WeadvisedeveloperstoseektheadviceofasuitablyqualifiedpesticideoperatororBASISregisteredpesticidesadvisorbeforetheystartasprayingprogramme.

Therearesomepracticesthatyoucanfollowtofurtherreducethechanceofdamagingengineeredstructures.Earlyresults(currentlyunpublished)suggestthattheresidualherbicideTordon22K,containingpicloramasanactiveingredient,achievesahighlevelofJapaneseknotweedcontrolwhenapplieddirecttofoliageorasasoiltreatment(5.6l/ha).

Itisadvisabletoconsidersoiltreatment,oraneffectiverootbarriermembranemethodbeforecreatinganengineeredsurfaceoveranyareathatcouldsupportlivingJapaneseknotweedrhizome.Thisisparticularlyimportantundertarmac,whichcanbedamagedconsiderablybyJapaneseknotweed.

Itisimportantthatyouuseherbicidesasstatedonthelabels.ItisnotappropriatetouseTordon22Knearwaterortrees,wheretheextensiverootsystemcantakeuptheherbicidefromthesoil.

Only qualified operators should use herbicides and they must follow the instructions on the label when using them.

FurtherguidanceisalsoavailableintheformerWelshDevelopmentAgencyguidelines,nowWelshAssemblyGovernment,detailofwhichisgiveninsection9.2.TheseguidelinesshouldbeusedinconjunctionwiththiscodeinWales.

Herbicide Affects grasses?

Time of application Approved for use in or near water?

Persistency

Glyphosate Yes May-October(lateseasonpreferable)

Yes(certainformulations)

Non-persistent

2,4-DAmine

Triclopyr

Picloram No Allyear(soiltreatmentinwinter)

No Upto2years

No May-October(earlyseasonpreferable)

No Upto6weeks

No May-October(earlyseasonpreferable)

Yes(certainformulations)

Upto1month

3.3 Which herbicide should I use?

3.3.1: Is the site in or near water?‘Inornearwater’includes‘drainagechannels,streams,riversponds,lakes,reservoirs,canalsanddryditches’.Italsocoverscontrolofvegetationgrowingonbanksorareasimmediatelyadjacenttowaterbodies.Ifyouintendtouseaherbicidewithin5mofwater,orifyourtreatmentmayimpactwaterquality,youshouldcontactusbeforehand.

Whereverthereisariskofcontaminatingawatercourse,choiceofherbicidesislimitedtoformulationsofglyphosateand2,4-Daminethatareapprovedforusenearwater.Notallherbicidesthatcontaintheseactiveingredientsaresuitabletouseinornearwater.Youmustrefertothelabeltomakesurethattheproductyouintendtouseisapprovedforuseinornearwater.Youmustconsultusbeforeyouuseaherbicideinornearwater.YouwillneedtodiscussthetreatmentwithaBASIS1qualifiedofficerfromthelocalAreaoffice.Youcangetthetelephonenumberofyourlocalofficebycallingournationalcallcentreon08708506506.YoumayneedtocompleteaWQM1notificationform.Youshouldallowustwoweekstoprocessthisapplication.

3.3.2: Will the treatment damage trees or grass, which I wish to keep?Glyphosateisanon-selectiveherbicideandthereforekillsmostplants,includinggrass.Youcanuseit,withcare,aroundmaturetreesandshrubs.Picloramand2,4-Damineareselectiveandyoucanusethemwithoutharminggrass.Picloram

ispersistentinsoil,pronetoleachingandhighlydamagingtonearbytrees.

3.3.3: If I want to reuse the soil from the treated area for replanting, how long before I am able to landscape it?Ifyouwanttocarryonusingsoiloryouwanttoreuseitimmediatelyforlandscaping,itwouldbeappropriatetouseanon-residualherbicide,suchasglyphosate.Ifreplantingislikelytobedelayedforatleastsixweeks,youmayconsideraformulationcontainingtriclopyr.Ifyouintendtocovertheareainahardsurface,ordelayreplantingforatleasttwoyears,apersistentchemical,suchaspicloram,wouldbeappropriateifyouuseitawayfromtreesandwatercourses.Itisnotacceptabletoburysoiltreatedwitharesidualherbicideifitmaycontaminategroundwater.However,ahardsurfacecanusuallybelaidovertreatedsoilwithoutcausingpollution.

Itishighlyunlikelythatasingletreatmentofherbicidewouldprovideenoughcontroltoletyousafelyreusethesoilforlandscapingpurposes.Wheneveryoureusesoil,youshoulduseitinalocalisedarearatherthanspreadacrossthewholesite.Weadvisethatyoushouldnotuseitwithin50mofawatercourse.Youshouldchooseasitethatcaneasilybeinspectedandsubsequentlytreated,ifJapaneseknotweedregrows,asdescribedinSection2.4(Reusingtreatedsoilsonsite).

Post-treatment reaction to picloram

Regrowth after picloram treatment


BASIS1 is an organisation committed to making sure people involved in handling and using pesticides are competent. BASIS maintain a register of trained advisors, who need to demonstrate an annual programme of continual professional development to maintain their qualification. Details on the BASIS Professional Register are available from 34, St John Street, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 1GH. Tel: 01335 343945.

Arootbarriermembranephysicallyprotectsastructureorcleansoil.Itmustbemadeofamaterialthatisfitforpurpose.Itshouldbemadeofamaterialthatcanbe:

a) usedwithoutdamage;

b) providedinlargesizes,tominimisetheneed forseals;

c) sealedsecurely;

d) remainintactforatleast50years;

e) resistUVdamageifitisexposedtosunlight.

VariousrootbarriermembranesareavailablewhichclaimtopreventJapaneseknotweedpenetrating.Arootbarriermembraneisonlyasgoodasthewayinwhichithasbeenlaid.Itisessentialthatthereisexpertsupervisionwhentherootbarriermembraneissupplied.

Japaneseknotweedwilltendtobreakthroughholesorjoinsinthefabric,soitisessentialthattheintegrityoftherootbarriermembraneismaintained,andthereisaminimumnumberofseams.Ideally,rootbarriermembranematerialshouldconsistofasinglesheet.

Youmustensurethatrootbarriermembranescontainingleachablechemicalsdonotpollutestreamsandgroundwater.

GiventhatJapaneseknotweedrhizomemayremaindormantforatleast20years,itisimportantthatarootbarriermembranecarriesaguaranteewellbeyondthattime.Weadviseamanufacturer’sguaranteeofatleast50years.

Rootbarriermembranesarevulnerabletodamagefromburrowingmammals.Buryingrootbarriermembranecells2mordeepershouldprovidesomeprotectionagainstsmallermammals,suchasrats.Ifbadgersandrabbitsarepresent,youshouldconsiderdeeperburial.Badgersandtheirsettsareprotectedbylawandshouldnotbedisturbed.

Root barrier membranes are currently used in a number of ways:

• Cell formation

• Protecting structures and hard surfaces

• Preventing horizontal spread

• Protecting services, etc.

3.4 Combined treatment methodsSitetrialshaveshownthatcombiningdiggingandsprayingtreatmentiseffectiveinreducingthetimeneededforchemicalcontrol.Youneedtotakegreatcarewiththismethodtoavoidspreadingplantmaterial.

Theaimofthetreatmentistobreakuptherhizome,whichstimulatesleafproductionandthereforemakestheplantmorevulnerabletoherbicidetreatment.Rhizomeisalsostimulatedtoproducegreengrowthifitisnearoronthesurface.Thereforethesuccessofthetreatmentwillbedeterminedbytheamountofrhizomethatisbroughttothesurfacelayer.

Youshouldcut,dryandburnJapaneseknotweedcaneson-siteifallowed(seeSection5.2).Youcanalsoburncrownsandsurfacerhizomerakedfromthesurfacewithtinesortakethemtolandfill.Youcannotrelyonburningtokillrhizomeorcrowns.

ThemajorityofJapaneseknotweedrhizomeexistsintheupperlayersoftopsoil.Ithasbeenestimatedthatinaninfestedarea,14,000kg/hadryweightofJapaneseknotweedmayexistinthetop25cm(Brock,1994).Youmayuseanexcavatortoscrapesurfacecrownsandrhizomesintoapile.Youcanthencultivatetheexposedgroundtoatleast50cmdeep,dependingonhowdeepthebulkoftherhizomeis,andturnthepiledmaterialandre-spreaditoverthecultivatedarea.

Thisprocessstimulatestherhizometoproduceahigherdensityofstems,whichmakesitmorevulnerabletoherbicidetreatment.Wehaveseenthatsubsequentherbicidetreatmenthasachievedsignificantlybetterratesofcontrol.WhilstthisdisturbancetechniquemayhavethepotentialtoeradicateJapaneseknotweedinfestations,itcannotguaranteeit.Itwouldbeinappropriatetodisposeoftreatedmaterialunderawasteexemption.Youcouldreusesoilon-site,inlocalisedareasthatwouldfacilitateherbicidetreatmentifregrowthweretooccur(seesection2.4).

Youcandigthesoilduringthewinter,ifyoutakecarenottocompactwetsoil,andyoucantreatregrowthduringthespringandsummer.Soilcanbecomecompactedifyoudriveoveritorworkitwhenit’swet.Thisreducesrainwaterinfiltration,whichincreasesrunoffandmayspreadJapaneseknotweedacrossthesiteandintowatercourses.Compactedsoilsarealsolesslikelytoencouragetheregrowthneededfortreatment.

YoumusttakeextremecaretomakesurethatallequipmentusedonsiteisfreeofJapaneseknotweedmaterialbeforeleavingthesitetoavoidcontraveningtheWildlife&CountrysideAct,1981.Toreducetheriskofcontaminatingvehicles,youshouldavoidexcavatorswithcaterpillartracksandthoroughlypressure-washvehiclesafteruseorbeforeleavingsite(seesections2and6.2).

HowdoIuserootbarriermembranes?VariousrootbarriermembranesareavailablewhichclaimtopreventJapanese

knotweedpenetrating.Arootbarriermembraneisonlyasgoodasthewayinwhich

ithasbeenlaid.Itisessentialthatthereisexpertsupervisionwhentherootbarrier

membraneissupplied.


The importance of intact root barrier membrane

4.1. Cell formation InsomesituationswhereburialisthepreferreddisposalmethodbutitisnotpossibletoburyJapaneseknotweedto5m(seesection5.4),itmaybecompletelyencapsulatedintoarootbarriermembranecell.Thesecellsmaybeplacedunderbuildings,withincellarvoidsorinplacesthatwillnotbedisturbed.Itisimportantthatthedeedsofthepropertyshowwherethesecellsarelocated,toavoiddamageinthefuturethatcouldbecaused,forexample,bytrenchingtolayservices.Toavoid

damageafterithasbeeninstalled,theupper‘cell’surfacemustbecoveredwithacappinglayer,atleast2mdeep.Dependingwhereitislocated,thecellisquiteoftenusedinthelandscapeandtreesplantedwithinthecappinglayer.

Youmustuserootbarriermembranes

inawaythatwillnotincreasetheriskof

subsidencetosubsequentbuildings.

Cell formation - putting the Dendro-Scott root barrier membrane in place

Stage 1: Calculatevolumerequiredandexcavate

site,allowingfor2mdepthofburial

Stage 2: Protecttheintegrityoftherootbarrier

membranewithalayerofsandandprovideshutterply

supportsfortheedgeofthecell.

Stage 3: Putrootbarriermembraneinplace,allowing

enoughmaterialalongtheedgestoeventuallyprovide

aseal.

Stage 4: Protecttherootbarriermembranefromtyre

damagewithalayerofsand.

Cell formation - putting the Dendro-Scott root barrier membrane in place

Stage 5: Fillthecellwiththeknotweedinfestedsoil.

Noothermaterial,contaminants,orwastesshouldbe

included.

Stage 6: Makesurethatdedicatedvehiclesareused

andcleanedproperlyaftertheyhavebeenused.

Haulageroutesmustbeprotected.

Stage 7: Putthesurfaceoftherootbarriermembrane

inplaceandmakesurethecellisadequatelysealed.

Stage 8: Protectthesurfaceofthecellwithsandand

burydeepenoughtopreventdisruptioninthefuture.

Itisimportantthatthesuppliersofrootbarriermembranescanadvisethedesigning

architectofpotentialproblemsandsuperviseinstallation.


4.2 Protecting structures and hard surfaces WherethereisachancethatJapaneseknotweedrhizomeisstilllivingwithinthesoilandthereareplanstoconstructbuildingsintheseareas,thereareanumberofwaysrootbarriermembranesareused:

1. Beforedevelopment,infestedareasaresealed horizontallywiththerootbarriermembrane. Caremustbetakenthatlayingtherootbarrier membranedoesnotaffecttheconditionofthe buildingorstructure,especiallyonsloping ground.

2. Rootbarriermembranesarebuiltintothe structurestopreventJapaneseknotweed enteringthebuildingorlaidhorizontally underneaththepavedsurface,roadorcarpark.

AsJapaneseknotweedcouldcreate

‘heave’andcauseinitialfracturesto

concretefloorsorapavedsurface,it

isimportantthatapliablesurfaceis

laidbetweentheconcreteandtheroot

barriermembrane.Thiswouldallowthe

Japaneseknotweedtogrowwithout

stressingtheconcrete.Caremustalso

betakentoprotecttheservicesentering

thebuilding.

Surface sealing - putting the Dendro-Scott root barrier membrane in place

Stage 1: Protecttheintegrityoftherootbarrier

membraneandpreventdamagefrom‘heave’witha

layerofsand.

Stage 2: Puttherootbarriermembraneinplace.

Stage 3: Applyanotherlayerofsandoverthesurface

oftherootbarriermembrane.

Stage 4: Layfinalfloorsurface.

Surface sealing - peripheral protection

Make sure the root barrier membrane is sealed properly around pillars and other structures.


4.3 Preventing horizontal spread

Preventing horizontal spread by using a vertical root barrier membrane

Stage 1: Excavateatrench,makingsurethatallthe

knotweediscontained.

Stage 2: Puttherootbarriermembraneinplace.

Stage 3: Supporttherootbarriermembranewith

shutterplyandbackfillthetrench.

Stage 4: Makesurethatthepresenceoftheroot

barriermembraneisrecordedandisnotdisruptedby

futuredevelopmentsandlandscaping.

4.4 Protecting services, etc Ifservicesorothersmall-scalestructuresneedtobeconstructedinareasinfestedwithJapaneseknotweed,itisoftenmorecost-effectivetoprotecttheintegrityofthestructurewithinarootbarriermembraneratherthansubjecttheentireareatoafull-scaleJapaneseknotweedmanagementplan.Itisessentialthatanysoilcontainedbytherootbarriermembrane,inproximitytothedrainorstructure,isfreefromknotweed.Thesurroundinginfestationcanthenbecontrolledusingherbicidesoveraperiodoftime.

CarefullyusingaverticalrootbarriermembranehasbeenusedtopreventthehorizontalgrowthofJapaneseknotweed.Thisisusuallyusedagainstuncontrolledinfestationsfromneighbouringproperties.Verticalrootbarriermembranesarealsooftenusedaroundtheedgeofcuts,asaprecaution

againstregrowthfromanyresidualrhizome.Verticalrootbarriermembranescanoftenbemostconvenientlyusedwhenreinforcedbyaplywoodframe.Ifitisnotknownhowdeeptherhizomehasspread,verticalrootbarriermembranesshouldbeusedto3mdeepasastandard.

HowdoItreatordisposeofJapaneseknotweedonsite?Whereverpossible,youshouldkeeptheamountofJapaneseknotweedexcavatedto

aminimumandfocusontreatingtheJapaneseknotweedinitsoriginallocationand

protectingengineeredsurfacesandstructuresfrombeingdamaged.Ifyouwishto

treatJapaneseknotweedinitsoriginalposition,seeSection3,4.2,4.3and4.4.

5.1 Cutting Japanese knotweed canesPulledstemsoftenhavethehighlyinvasivecrownmaterialattachedtothem,andmustbedisposedofinthesamewayasrhizome.Cutstemsarelessofarisk,andaresafeoncetheyhavedriedoutandturnedbrown.Ifyouintendtotreatregrowthwithaherbicide,youshouldremovecutmaterialfromthetreatmentareatoallowthespraytoeffectivelycoverthenewgrowth.

Youshouldleavecutstemswheretheycandryout.Japaneseknotweedcangrowagainfromjustsmallpiecesofstem,soyoushouldleavedryingcanesonanappropriatemembranesurface,notonsoilorgrass.Oncethestemshavedriedtoadeepbrowncolourtheyaredead.Thisisnotthecasewithcrownorrhizomematerial.Japaneseknotweedstemscanbeleftonsiteaftercuttingif:

• the stem is big enough that it won’t be blown away by wind or traffic; • there is no risk they can get into a watercourse;• the stem has been neatly cut near its base using a cutter, hook or scythe.

Youshouldcutstemscleanlysothattheydon’tcreatepiecesofstemthatmayspreadandregrow.Youshouldnotuseflails.ItisgoodpracticetochemicallytreatJapaneseknotweed,ratherthancontinuouslycuttheregrowth.

5.2BurningYoucanusecontrolledburningofstem,rhizomeandcrownmaterialaspartoftheprogrammetocontrolJapaneseknotweed.Thismeansthematerialislesslikelytosurviveandthereislessmaterialtoburyordisposeofoff-site.Initsnativearea,Japaneseknotweedgrowsonvolcanicashandaroundhotfumaroles,sodon’trelyonheattreatmenttocompletelykillit.Burningmusttakeintoaccountanylocalby-lawsandthepotentialtocauseanuisanceorpollution.YoushouldcontacttheEnvironmental

HealthOfficeoftherelevantlocalcouncilbeforeburning.YoumustinformourlocalAreaofficeEnvironmentManagementTeam(08708506506)atleastoneweekbeforeanyburialorburningactivity.

YoumaycarryoutburningintheopeninaccordancewitharegisteredexemptionasdescribedinParagraph30ofSchedule3oftheWMLR1994.ThisexemptionmustberegisteredwiththeEnvironmentAgencyandcovers“burningwasteonlandintheopenif…..[it]consistsofplanttissue”.TofallunderParagraph30thewastemustbeburnedonthelandwhereitwasproducedandthetotalquantityburnedinanyperiodof24hoursdoesnotexceed10tonnes.Theexemptionalsocoversassociatedstorage,whichwillallowthematerialtodry,whichitislikelytoneedbeforeitcanbeburned.

YoumustinformourlocalAreaoffice

EnvironmentManagementTeam

(08708506506)atleastoneweek

beforetheburning.


5.3 ExcavationWhereverpossible,youshouldtreatJapaneseknotweedinitsoriginallocation.YoushouldonlyconsiderexcavatingJapaneseknotweedasalastresort,unlessthisispartofanon-sitetreatmentmethod.Ifyouuseexcavationforoff-sitedisposal,youmusttakegreatcaretoavoidexcesswasteandmakesuretheexcavatedJapaneseknotweeddoesnotcontaminatesurplussoilthatiscurrentlyfreefrominfestation.

Itisimportanttocarefullyidentifyrhizomesduringtheexcavationprocess.Someexcavationshavebeen6metresdeepbecauseofmis-identifiedtreeroots!Arecentinfestationmayhavealimitedrhizomesystemthatisshallowandonlyextendsashortdistance.IfJapaneseknotweednaturallyspreadsontonewground,orisdumpedonthesurface,rhizomerarelypenetratesdeeperthan3m.However,ifJapaneseknotweedwasdumpedintheearlystagesofalongperiodofwastetippingitmayhavebecomeburiedbyotherdepositedwasteandbedeeperthan3m.AppendicesI-IVgiveguidanceonrecognisingrhizomes,includingcomparisonswithotherplantmaterialoftenfoundondevelopmentsites.Sectionv)ofAppendixIalsodescribeshowtoexcavateJapaneseknotweedbeforeburyingorbundingit.Theguideisdesignedasafieldreferenceduringexcavations.

Soilcanbecomecompactedifdrivenoverorworkedwhenwet.Thisreducesrainwaterinfiltration,whichincreasesrunoffandmayspreadJapaneseknotweedacrossthesiteandintowatercourses.Compactedbundsarealsolesslikelytoencouragetheregrowthrequiredfortreatment(seesection5.5).

5.4 The burial methodSoilcontainingJapaneseknotweedmaterialandburntremainsofJapaneseknotweedmaybeburiedonthesitewhereitisproducedtoensurethatyoucompletelykillit.Itisadvisabletoapplyanon-persistentherbicideatleastoncetoreducethegrowthofinfectivematerial.Itisimportantthatanon-persistentherbicideisused,suchasglyphosate,becausepersistentchemicalswillcontaminatethematerialforawhile.Theperiodoftimeduringwhichtheherbicideis‘active’isdescribedontheproductlabel.Materialcannotbeburiedduringthatperiodofactivity.Buryingmaterialtreatedwithapersistentherbicidemaycontaminategroundwater.Ifyouareindoubtwhethertheherbicideisstillactive,youshouldconsultwiththesupplieroftheproductorthecontractorwhoappliedit.

Youmustburymaterialon-siteatleast5mdeep,unlessyouaredoingthisinaccordancewithsection4.1.YoushouldthencovertheJapaneseknotweedmaterialwitharootbarriermembranelayer(seesection4)beforeinfillingitto5mdeepwithinertfillortopsoil.RootbarriermembranesthatmayhavebeenusedtoprotectcleangroundfromvehiclesinvolvedinexcavatingJapaneseknotweedcanalsobeburied.ThismethodreliesonthedepthofburialasthemainJapaneseknotweedtreatment,ratherthantheprotectionfromtherootbarriermembrane.Ifmaterialcannotbeburieddeepenough,themethoddescribedinparagraph4.1.mustbeused.

Whereyouuseon-siteburial,westronglyadvisethatyouaccuratelymapandrecordthelocationoftheburialsitetopreventpotentialdisturbanceandre-infestation,andthatyouadviseanyfutureownersofitsposition.Japaneseknotweedislikelytosurviveformanyyears,dependingonhoweffectivethetreatmentwasbeforeitwasburied.Itisessentialthatyoudonotburyitwherelandscaping,installingservices,erosionfromawatercourseorsubsequentdevelopmentwilldisturbit.

YoumustinformourlocalAreaofficeEnvironmentManagementTeam(08708506506)atleastoneweekbeforetheburial.Wewilltheninspectandinformyouwhetherwearesatisfiedthatthematerialcanbeburied.ItisonlyacceptabletoburyJapaneseknotweedmaterialifthesoilisotherwiseuncontaminated.Anyotherwaste,suchasrubbleordiscardedhouseholditems,mustbeseparatedandremovedduringexcavation.Ifcontaminantscannotbeseparated,itcannotbeburied.Ifburialresultsinpollutionorharmtohealthyouwillnothavecompliedwithyourwaste‘relevantobjectives’(seepage6-7)andmayfaceprosecution.

5.4.1 Stockpiling Japanese knotweed infestedsoil prior to burialIfsoilcontainingJapaneseknotweedisstockpiled,thematerialmustbestoredinamannerthatwillnotharmhealthortheenvironment.Thestockpileshouldbeonanareaofthesitethatwillremainundisturbed.Youshouldclearlysignthisarea(appendixVII).YoushouldregularlytreatJapaneseknotweedregrowthwithherbicidetoavoidre-infestation.Asaprecaution,youshouldlaythestockpiledmaterialonarootbarriermembranetoavoidcontaminatingthesitefurther.

5.5 The bund methodWherelocalconditionsmeanyoucannotuseburialasanoption,itmaybepossibletocreateaJapaneseknotweedbund.AbundisashallowareaofJapaneseknotweed-contaminatedsoil,typically0.5mdeep.Thebundcaneitherberaised,ontopoftheground,orplacedwithinanexcavationtomakethesurfaceflushwiththesurroundingarea.ThepurposeofthebundistomovetheJapaneseknotweedtoanareaofthesitethatisnotused.This‘buystime’fortreatmentthatwouldnotbepossiblewheretheJapaneseknotweedwasoriginallylocated.

Thewayyouconstructthebundiscritical,especiallyifitislikelytobedeeperthan0.5m.Theaimistoconcentratetherhizomeintotheuppersurfaceofthebund,whereitwillgrowandbecontrolledbyherbicide.Ifrhizomeisburieddeep,itwillbecomedormantwheninsidethebundandregrowwhentheapparentlycleansoilisusedforlandscapingonthesite.

Itisbesttothinkaboutifyouwillneeda

bundwhenyouarepurchasingthesite,

andplanningthebuildingphases.Abund

needsthefollowing:

a) anareasetasideforatleast18months-2years forJapaneseknotweedtreatment.Deeperbunds mayneedlonger;

b) localplanningauthorityapproval,ifnecessary, beforecreatingabund.Itisadvisableto emphasisethepurposeofthebund,andhow longitisexpectedtotaketobuildwhen discussingtheproposal;

c) anareawithintheperimeteroftheoriginalsite. RemovingJapaneseknotweedcontaminatedsoil fromasitewillneedawastelicenceanddisposal willonlybepermittedatlicensedlandfillsites;

d) positionedawayfromwatercourses(weadviseat least50m)andtrees.Ifthebundistobecreated onasitepreviouslyfreefromJapanese knotweed,cleantopsoilfromthebundareamay beremovedandusedforlandscapingpurposes, perhapsinrestoringthesitewhereJapanese knotweedwasexcavated;

e) temporarybundsshouldhavearootbarrier membranelayertoprotecttheunderlyingsite fromJapaneseknotweedinfestation.Permanent bundsonpreviouslyJapaneseknotweed-free areasshouldalsousearootbarriermembrane layertocontainthematerial.Ifthesitewas previouslycontaminatedwithJapanese knotweed,thereisnoneedfortherootbarrier membranelayer;

f) notmorethan1mdeep,andpreferablyno deeperthan0.5m.Clearly,alargeareamay beneededtoprovideenoughspaceforabund, especiallyifinfestationsarescatteredaround thesiteordominatealargepartofit.


Pre-excavation treatmentYoushouldtreattheJapaneseknotweedinfestationwithaherbicidebeforeremovingit.Becausematerialisnotintendedforburialorremovaloff-site,youcanconsidersuitablepersistentherbicides.But,itisimportanttoconsiderwhatwillhappentothematerialwhenyouchooseaproduct.Itwouldnotbeappropriatetouseaherbicidewithatwo-yearresidualactivityifyouintendtousethesoilforlandscapingafteraone-yearbundingprocess.

Whenyouhaveallowedenoughtimefortheherbicidetotakeeffect(preferablyatleastafortnight)youshouldcutandremovethecanes.Afterithasdriedout,youcanburnthismaterial,followingtherestrictionsalreadydescribed(seesection5.2).Youshouldeventuallyplaceanyunburnedmaterial,especiallyfromthebaseofcanes,ontopofthebund.

Youshouldrakethesurfaceofthesitewithtinesandcollectthecrownsandsurfacematerial.Themajorityofrhizomeisshallow,andcareatthisstagecanisolatemuchofthemostinfectivematerial.Ifthesoilissandyandnotheavilycontaminatedwithstonesorsolidwaste,youcanuseextendedtinestorakerhizometothesurface.Youcanplacethismaterialontopofthedriedcanesbeforeburning,orspreaditontopofthecompletedbund.Burningthismaterialbeforeplacingitonthesurfaceofthebunddestroyssomerhizomeandisthepreferredoption,butyoumustmakesurethatyouclearthefiresiteofallrhizomeandcrownmaterialandthatfiresareallowedatthesite(seesection5.2).

Refertosectionv)oftherhizomeidentificationguideforguidanceonexcavatingrhizome.Theexcavationshouldbeinspectedtomakesuretherearenolivingrhizomeleft.Theaimoftheexcavationistousetherelativelycleansubsoilasthebaseofthebundandconcentratetherhizome-richmaterialintothesurfacelayer.

Bund constructionAwell-constructedbundshouldhavethemajorityoftherhizomenearthesurface,whichwillencourageregrowth.Thebaseofthebundshouldbemadeupofthesubsoillayer,whichhasthelowestamountofrhizomeinit.Whenyouhavecreatedthebaseofthebund,youcanplacethetopsoiloveritandspreadthesurfacematerial,eitherburnedornot,overthesurface.

Youcanaddfertilisertothebundmaterialtohelpsubsequentregrowth.Thiswillincreaseleafareaandimproveherbicideuptake.Youshouldnotusefertilisernearwatercourses.

Treating regrowthThefragmentedrhizomesinthesurfacelayerarestimulatedtoproducenewgrowth.Afteroneortwoherbicidetreatments,furthersignificantregrowthisunlikely.Itishighlyadvisabletodisturbthebund,rakingpotentiallydormantrhizometothesurfaceandallowingthismaterialtoregrowbeforetreatingitwithherbicide,sothatyoucanbeconfidentthatthebundhasbeentreatedeffectively.

Itisparticularlyimportantwithdeeperbundstoconcentraterhizome-richsoilintothesurfacelayer,anddisturbthebundaftertreatment.

Thereisachoiceofherbicidefortreatingregrowthonthebund.Youmustthinkabouthowyouwilleventuallyusethebundmaterial.Ifyouaregoingtouseitforlandscapingaroundthesite,avoidherbicideswithaprotractedresidualactivity.Youmustreusetreatedsoilaccordingtosection2.4.

Itisimportanttorememberthatresearchhasshownthataslittleas0.7gofJapaneseknotweedrhizomemaygrowintoanewplant,andlargerpiecesofrhizomemayremaindormantforatleasttwentyyears.AcarefullyconstructedandmanagedbundisaneffectivewayoftreatingJapaneseknotweed,butitisnoguaranteeofgettingridoftheproblemcompletely.

HowdoIdisposeofJapaneseknotweedoff-site?6.1 Arrangements for landfillIfJapaneseknotweedcannotbekilledbyburyingorbundinginfestedexcavatedsoilonsite,youmustdisposeofitatasuitablylicensedorpermitteddisposalfacility.YoumustinformthesiteoperatorthatthereislivingJapaneseknotweedwithinthematerial.Youshouldregardthismethodasalastresort.DisposingofsoilcontaminatedwithJapaneseknotweedtolandfillusesupvaluablelandfillcapacity,involveslarge-scalehaulageandcanbeveryexpensive.

Landfillsareclassifiedasbeingfora)hazardous,b)non-hazardousandc)inertwastesandtheLandfill(EnglandandWales)Regulations2002asamendedsetoutwasteacceptancecriteriaforeachtypeoflandfill.WastesoilcontainingJapaneseknotweedisusuallyclassedascontrolledwastebutmaybehazardousifherbicideispresent.WhenevermaterialcontainingJapaneseknotweedisremovedtolandfill,itmustbetakentoasitewhichislicensedorpermittedtoreceiveit.NotalllandfilloperatorsmayagreetotakeJapaneseknotweed,andtheywillneedtohaveasuitableareatocorrectlyburyitin.

ItisgoodpracticetotreatJapaneseknotweedwithglyphosateatleasttwoweeksbeforeexcavatingit(seeSections3.2and3.3).Thiswillmakeanyrhizomethatmayhavebeenlostwhenitwasmoved,orleftbehindafteritwasexcavated,lesslikelytosurvive.Youshouldnotusepersistentherbicides.Thesearelikelytobestillactiveinthesoilwhenitisdisposedof,andmaymeanthesoilisclassifiedas‘hazardouswaste’asnotedabove.Thisislikelytoincreasethecostofhaulageanddisposal.

Ifyouuseoff-sitedisposal,takegreatcaretoavoidlosingmaterialenroute.Forsmallquantities,thismayinclude‘double-bagging’thewasteinheavydutywastebags.Forlargerquantitiesthatarebeingmovedinskipsortrailers,thiswillincludeliningandcoveringtheskipetc.withmembrane(SeeSection7).

Landfilloperatorsdealingwithmaterial

contaminatedwithJapaneseknotweed

mustmakesurethat:

a) theyarelicensed/permittedtoreceiveit;

b) theyhaveenoughcapacitytomakesurethey candealwiththematerialaccordingto thefollowing:

Material,includingcontaminatedsoils,

rhizomeandthecrownatthebaseofthe

stem,mustbeburied:

• atleast5metresdeep,(immediatelycoverto1-2 metres,finaldepthafter2-4weeks);

• atleast7metresfromthemarginsofthesite oranyengineeringfeatures,forexampledrains orbunds,ofthesite;

• atleast3metresabovethebase/linerof thelandfill.

BecauselandfillsneedtodealwithJapaneseknotweedinthisway,itisadvisabletocontactthelandfillsiteseveraldaysbeforeanyofthismaterialistakentheretoallowasuitableareatobepreparedforitsdisposal.

Ifyouneedinformationonthenearest

appropriatelandfilltoyoursite,callus

on08708506506.

Additionalinformation,including

detailsoflandfilltaxexemptionscan

beobtainedfromtheNetRegswebsite,

www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/processes


6.2 Duty of care for hauliersBeforeacceptingwastematerialfortransferoffsiteyoumustinspectitforJapaneseknotweedcontaminationunlessyouknowitispresentalready.Youmustensurethatyoucomplyfullywithyourwastedutyofcareand,ifthematerialishazardous,therequirementsoftheHWR2005mustalsobemet(seepage6-7).Ifyoutakeittoalandfill,thatfacilitymustbelicensedorpermittedtoreceiveit.YoumustinformthelandfilloperatorthatthewastecontainsJapaneseknotweedsothathecandisposeofitappropriatelywithinthesite.

Asahaulier,youshouldnotacceptinfestedwasteunlessyoucanguaranteethatyoucandisposeofitappropriately.IfyouareawareofwasteproducerswhoarefailingtoinformtheirhauliersaboutJapaneseknotweed,oryouknowhaulierswhoareknowinglydisposingofJapaneseknotweedinfestedmaterialinappropriately,youshouldletusknowbycallingourincidenthotlineon0800807060.

Youmustalsomakesurethatwhenyouareremovingmaterialoff-site,yourvehiclesdonotcarrypiecesofJapaneseknotweedrhizomeonthemandthatvehiclesaresuitablycoveredorenclosedtopreventJapaneseknotweedescapingwhenitisbeingmoved(seeSection7).Youshouldbrushvehiclesdownvigorouslyorjet-washthemandtheninspectthemfortrappedpiecesofrhizome.

Somewastedisposalactivitiesthatweconsidersafetotheenvironmentdonotrequireawastelicence.Theseareclassedasexemptfromwastelicensing.TherearenowastelicensingexemptionsavailablefortheuseofJapaneseknotweed-infestedsoilsandwewilltreatanyuseofthismaterialasawasteoffence.Youcanonlyreuseknotweed-infestedsoilsaftertreatment.YoucanonlydisposeofJapaneseknotweed-infestedsoiloff-siteatasuitablylicensedorpermittedlandfill.Youcannotdisposeofitwithothersurplussoilandyoumustnotsellitastopsoil.

Anyonewhodoesnotdisposeoff-site

ofanymaterialcontainingJapanese

knotweedappropriatelymaybe

prosecutedunderSections33and34

oftheEPA1990andSection14ofthe

Wildlife&CountrysideAct1981.Ifyou

needadvice,calluson08708506506.

HowdoImovesoilcontainingJapaneseknotweed?YoushouldtrytomoveJapaneseknotweedinfestedsoilaslittleaspossible.You

needtothoroughlycleanvehiclesafteryouhaveusedthem.Avoidusingvehicles

thatarelikelytotrappiecesofrhizome,particularlythosewithcaterpillartracks.

Remember,justfinger-nailsizespiecesofrhizomecanleadtoitspreadingfurther.

7.1 Moving soil on-site TheJapaneseknotweedmanagementplan(AppendixVandVI)shouldreducetheneedtomovesoil.Youneedtoassessthehaulageroutesyouplantotakeforrisks,avoidingwatercourses,transportcorridorsandareasofhighconservationandamenityvalue.IfhaulageroutescrossareasfreefromJapaneseknotweed,soilshouldbeprotectedwithalayerofrootbarriermembrane.Thisshouldbeprotectedwithalayerofsandaboveandbelowtherootbarriermembrane,andasurfacelayerofhardcore.ThismaterialcanbeburiedwithintheJapaneseknotweedcell,asdescribedabove.

Youshouldclearlymarkoutyourhaulagerouteswithtape.YoushouldlimitaccesstotheseareastovehiclesinvolvedinmovingJapaneseknotweed.Youmustdecontaminatevehiclesbeforetheyleavethearea.

7.2 Moving soil off-site WhenyoutransportsoilinfestedwithJapaneseknotweedtolandfill,itisessentialtocarryoutstricthygienemeasures.Ifyoudonotfollowthesestandards,thismayleadtoJapaneseknotweedspreading.Japaneseknotweedisaparticularproblemalongtransportcorridors,whereitinterfereswiththelineofvisionandcancauseaccidents.

Werecommendthatyoushouldonlyfilltrucksuptoamaximumof20cmfromthetop.Youmustsealthevoidwithawell-securedmembrane.Youshoulduseenoughmembranetoletthesoilbesealedintoatemporarycellfortransporting.Itisveryimportantthatyoucontainthesoiltopreventanymaterialbeinglostwhenitismoved.Tocontainthesoilintheshort-term,youcanusealowerspecificationofmembrane(seeglossary).

7.3 Decontaminating vehicles YoushoulddecontaminatetheoutsideofvehicleswhenevertheyleaveanareacontaminatedwithJapaneseknotweed.YoushouldcleanvehiclesbeforeusingthemtomoveJapaneseknotweed.Youshouldcleantherearofthetruckafterithasfinishedmovingsoil.Youshoulduseapressurewasherandstiff-hairedbrushestocleanthevehicle,makingsurethatyouthoroughlyscouranyareasthatmightretainrhizome.Youneedtopayparticularattentiontotyretreadsandwheelarches.AnymaterialdislodgedduringthisprocessmustbeincludedwithintheJapaneseknotweedwaste.Youshouldonlycarryoutthisprocessoverarootbarriermembranelayerorhardsurfacethatcancontainandcollectthematerialwashedoff.Youmustnotletthismaterialcontaminatedrains,ditchesorwatercourses.

Peoplewhoknowwhatrhizomelooklike

shoulddothecleaning.Youshouldcarry

outathoroughinspectionbeforethe

vehicleisusedforotherduties.


8.4 What do I do if Japanese knotweed starts to grow through tarmac and other engineered surfaces and structures?OnceJapaneseknotweedbreaksthroughanengineeredsurface,therearelimitedwaysofmanagingit.Thereisarestrictedchoiceofherbicides,limitedtothoseproductsthathavebeenapprovedfortreatmentonhardsurfaces.Itisessentialthatyourefertothelabelconditionsaboutusingtheherbicidebeforetreatment.Someformulationsofglyphosateareapprovedfortreatinghardsurfaces,andthesewouldbesuitable.ItisadvisabletolettheJapaneseknotweedgrowbeforetreatingit,toallowthemaximumsurfaceareaofleaffortheherbicidetotransfertotherhizome.Youshouldseriouslyconsiderremovingthehardsurfaceandtreatingtheinfestation,beforerelayinganintactsurfaceafteryouhavedestroyedtheinfestation.

Preventionis,withoutdoubt,betterthancure.IfwedonotmanageJapaneseknotweedappropriatelyandallowittodamagenewstructures,therearelimitedwaysofcontrollingit.Herbicidesarelicensedforspecifickindsoftreatment,andmanychemicalsthatmayhavebeenusedbeforeahardsurfacewaslaidcannotbeusedfortreatingJapaneseknotweedthatisgrowingthroughtarmac.

8.5 How do I stop Japanese knotweed from neighbouring properties from re-infesting the site?

Co-ordinated control programmesIdeally,beforestartinganyJapaneseknotweedcontrolprogramme,youshouldconsideranyareasofJapaneseknotweedclosetotheboundaryofthesitewithintheprogrammeandnegotiatesomesortofarrangementwiththelandowner.Asitemanagermayconsiderincludingtheseareaswithinhistreatmentprogrammeasanactofgoodwill,iftheadditionalcostsarenegligible.Otheroptionsincludingallowingtheneighbouringlandownertopayformaterialcosts,suchasherbicide,orsharingthecostsaccordingtotheareaaffected.

Root barrier membrane methodsCarefullyusingagoodqualityrootbarriermembraneshouldbeaneffectivewayofstoppingJapaneseknotweedfromspreadingfromneighbouringinfestedsites.Wediscussthismethodinsection4above.

The law of nuisanceCommonlawrecognisesthecivilwrongsofnuisance,bothprivateandpublic.Aprivatenuisanceisdefinedasan“unlawfulinterferencewithaperson’senjoymentofland,orsomerightover,orinconnectionwithit”(ReadvLyons&CoLtd1945)andonlyapersonwithalegalrighttoexclusivepossessionmaysue.Apublicnuisanceoccurswherealargesectionofthepublicisaffected.Iftherewereacaseofpublicnuisance,itisimportantforyoutoestablishiftheaccusedpersoncouldhave‘foreseen’this.So,havingevidencethatyouhadlettheowneroftheneighbouringpropertyknowabouttheJapaneseknotweedwouldbeimportant.

8.6 How do I treat Japanese knotweed regrowth amongst valuable shrubs and planting schemes?Japaneseknotweedgrowthmayoccurinundisturbedareasofthesitewheretheoriginalvegetationistobepreserved.Regrowthmayoccurinnewlylandscapedareasasaresultofinadequatetreatmentprogrammesorcontaminatedtopsoilintroducedtothesite.Carefullyselectingherbicide,asdescribedinsection3,canavoiddamaginggrassedareas.Directapplicationtechniquesusingweed-wipers,orthestem-injectiontechniquecanavoidnon-targetdamage.

Thesteminjectiontechniqueinvolves

cuttingthecanenearitsbase,just

aboveanode.Thisleavesahollowtube,

downwhichadoseofherbicidecanbe

applied.Thismethodologyisdescribed

atwww.projects.ex.ac.uk/knotweed/

standardmethodology.pdf

HowwillJapaneseknotweedaffectusingthesiteinthelongterm?

8.1 Managing buried Japanese knotweed in thelong termIfJapaneseknotweedmaterialhasbeenburiedasdescribedabove,subsequentregrowthishighlyunlikely.Thelikelihoodofthematerialgrowinginthelongtermwilldependonhowitwastreatedbeforeitwasburied.Iftheinfestationwaseffectivelytreatedwithherbicideandtherhizomestressedbybeingbrokenupand/ordryingout,thiswillgreatlyreducethechanceofitsurvivinginthelongterm.Japaneseknotweedrhizomehasbeenknowntosurviveforatleast20years,soitisimportanttoconsidermanagingitoveralongperiodoftime.Siteownersinthefuturemustbeabletoseearecordthatgivesdetailsofthepreciselocationandnatureoftheburial.Itisimportantthatthesiteisnotdisturbed.Ifithastobedisturbed,thecontaminatedmaterialmustbemanagedaccordingtothiscodeofpractice.

8.2 Controlling potential regrowth around the siteWhendevelopingaJapaneseknotweedmanagementplan,youneedtoconsiderthepotentialforregrowtharoundthesite.Whenyouconsiderthat0.7gramofrhizomeisenoughforittoregenerate,youmayexpectsomeregrowthandyouwillneedtobuildthatintoanyagreementbetweenclientandcontractor.Regrowthtendstohappenwhennotenoughmaterialhasbeenexcavatedfromtheinitialinfestation,trackedvehiclesorpoorhaulagehasspreadsmallfragmentsandwheninadequatelytreatedmaterialhasbeenreusedforlandscapingpurposes.Regrowthfromfragmentedrhizomerespondswelltoherbicidetreatment,orcarefuldigging.Ifregrowthoccursduetoundisturbedrhizomethatwasoverlookedduringthesurvey,youwillneedalong-termcontrolprogramme.

8.3 Advice to new ownersItisgoodpracticetoadvisethenewownersofthepropertythatthesitewassubjecttoaJapaneseknotweedmanagementplan.Youshouldincludethiswithinavendorstatementofdeclaration.Itispossibleforisolatedregrowthstooccurinthefuture,andgoodadvicewillhelptopreventthesefrombecomingestablished.Japaneseknotweedfromneighbouringlandmayalsore-invadethesite.TheCornwallKnotweedForumwebsitewww.cornwallknotweed.org.ukgivesadvicetohouseholdersonmanagingJapaneseknotweed.


Appropriate method of herbicide application can avoid non-target damage.

Activeingredient:Thechemicalcomponentofaherbicidethatactuallykillsordebilitatestheplant.

Axil:Theanglebetweentheleafstalkofaplantandthestem.

BASIS:Aqualificationoftechnicalcompetenceforpeoplewhouse,store,selloradviseontheuseofpesticides.BASISisanorganisationcommittedtomakingsurepeopleinvolvedinhandlingandusingpesticidesarecompetent.BASISmaintainaregisteroftrainedadvisors,whoneedtodemonstrateanannualprogrammeofcontinualprofessionaldevelopmenttomaintaintheirqualification.DetailsontheBASISProfessionalRegisterareavailablefrom34,StJohnStreet,Ashbourne,DerbyshireDE61GH.Tel:01335343945.

Brownfield:Asitethathasbeenpreviouslyusedinamannerthatrequiresremediationbeforeitisusedagain.Suchsitesareoftenpost-industrialsitesorderelictbuildingsandoftenhavecontaminatedlandandotherwasteissuesassociatedwiththem.

Bund:Shallowpileofsoil,spreadouttoachieveadepthnogreaterthan1m,preferably0.5m.Bundscaneitherbeonthesurface,oroccupyvoidstocreatealevelsurface.BundsshouldhavethebulkoftheJapaneseknotweedrhizomeconcentratedonthesurface,tofacilitateregrowthsuitableforherbicidetreatment.

Canes:Tall,hollow,bamboo-likestems.

Clerkofworks:PersonresponsibleformanagingalltheJapaneseknotweedonsite.TheclerkofworksoverseestheJapaneseknotweedmanagementplanandensuresallstaffonsiteareawareoftheirrolewithregardsJapaneseknotweedmanagement.

ControlofPesticidesRegulations(CoPR)1986:CoPR1986requireanypersonwhousesapesticidetotakeallreasonableprecautionstoprotectthehealthofhumanbeings,creaturesandplants,safeguardtheenvironmentandinparticularavoidthepollutionofwater.ForapplicationofpesticidesinornearwaterapprovalfromtheEnvironmentAgencyshouldbesoughtbeforeuse.

Crown:Thevisiblepartoftherhizomefromwhichcanesgrow.Crownscanproducemanynewcanesand,becauseoftheirsize,canberesistanttoburningordryingout.

Dormant:Thestateinwhichanorganismisstillalive,butdisplayslittleevidenceoflife.

Dutyofcare:Section34oftheEnvironmentalProtectionAct1990(EPA90)imposesadutyofcareonpersonsconcernedwithcontrolledwaste.Thedutyappliestoanypersonwhoproduces,imports,carries,keeps,treatsordisposesofcontrolledwaste,orasabrokerhascontrolofsuchwastes.Breachingthedutyofcareisanoffence,withapenaltyofanunlimitedfineifconvictedonindictment.

EnvironmentalProtectionAct1990(EPA1990):EPA1990containsanumberoflegalprovisionsconcerning“controlledwaste”,whicharesetoutinPartII.AnyJapaneseknotweedcontaminatedsoilorplantmaterialthatyoudiscard,intendtodiscardorarerequiredtodiscardislikelytobeclassifiedascontrolledwaste.Themostrelevantprovisionsareinsections33and34.

Fly-tipping:Illegaldisposalofwasteintotheenvironment.

Sourcesofadditionalinformation9.1 Additional informationYoucanfindgoodpracticeonmanagingJapaneseknotweedontheinternet.TheCornwallKnotweedForum(www.cornwallknotweed.org.uk/environment/knotweed)providesusefulsupportinginformation.Thisdocumentupdatestheadvicewithinthatwebsitefordevelopersandhauliers.DevonKnotweedForumadvicecanbeobtainedfrom:www.devon.gov.uk/index/environment/natural_environment/biodiversity/japanese_knotweed/advice_land_and_gardener.htm

Electronicversionsofthiscodeareavailableon:www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/conservation

AdditionalinformationonJapaneseknotweedmanagement,includinginformationonlandfilltaxcreditscanbeobtainedon:www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/processes

TherearevariouscontrolmethodsavailablefromcompaniesspecialisinginJapaneseknotweedmanagementondevelopmentsites.YoushouldbecarefulofproductsandmethodsthatclaimtoquicklyeradicateJapaneseknotweed.

9.2 Some useful resources:Child,L.E.andWade,P.M.(2000)TheJapaneseKnotweedManual.PackardPublishingLimited,Chichester.ISBN1853411272

CornwallKnotweedForum(2001)Japaneseknotweed.Guidanceforhouseholdersandlandowners.

WelshDevelopmentAgency(1998)ThecontrolofJapaneseknotweedinconstructionandlandscapecontracts:Modelspecification.(FormerWelshDevelopmentAgency),WelshAssemblyGovernment,Cardiff.

WelshDevelopmentAgency(1998)TheeradicationofJapaneseknotweed:Modeltenderdocument.(FormerWelshDevelopmentAgency),WelshAssemblyGovernment,Cardiff.

Glossary


Formulation:Aparticularherbicidetradedunderaspecificname.Differentformulationsofherbicidemaysharethesameactiveingredient,butaredesignedforuseindifferentsituations.Forinstance,onlycertainformulationsofglyphosateareapprovedforuseinornearwater.

Greenbelt:Areaofundevelopedlandinproximitytoacommunitythathasbeenpreservedtoconservetheaestheticbeautyofthelocation.Theseareasarereferredtoas‘greenwedges’inWales.

HazardousWasteRegulations2005(HWR2005):HWR2005containprovisionsaboutthehandlingandmovementofhazardouswaste.Consignmentnotesmustbecompletedwhenanyhazardouswasteistransferred,whichincludedetailsaboutthehazardouspropertiesandanyspecialhandlingrequirements.Ifaconsignmentnoteiscompleted,awastetransfernoteisnotnecessary.Materialcontainingknotweedthathasbeentreatedwithherbicide,maybeclassifiedashazardouswaste.

Hazardouswaste:HazardousWaste–wastewhichbyvirtueofitscomposition,carriestheriskofdeath,injuryorimpairmentofhealth,tohumansoranimals,thepollutionofwaters,orcouldhaveanunacceptableenvironmentalimpactifimproperlyhandled,treatedordisposedof,ascontrolledintheECDirectivesonHazardousWasteanddefinedbySpecialWasteRegulations1996(asamended)(schedule2).

Heave:Physicaldisruptionofahardsurfacecausedbyanupwardstress.

Hybrid:Aplantoranimalthatresultsfromreproductionbytwodifferentspecies.

Membrane:Inthiscode,membranedescribesarelativelylowspecificationprotectivelayerusedforcontainingJapaneseknotweedwhenitisbeingtransported(sections5.1,6.1,6.2,7.2).Comparewith‘rootbarriermembrane’,below.

Perennial:Aplantthatcontinuesitsgrowthfromyeartoyear.

Persistentherbicide:Aherbicidethatcontainsanactiveingredientthatwillnotbeswiftlydegradedafterithasbeenapplied.Thiscansometimeslimitthemannerinwhichtreatedsoilcanbereusedordisposedof.

Rhizome:Undergroundstem.EnablesJapaneseknotweedtosurviveover-winter,whenthecanesdieback.Smallsectionsofrhizome,aslittleas0.7gcanregrowintoanewplant.Rhizomatous:Oforpertainingtoarhizome.

Rootbarriermembrane:Highspecificationmembraneusedforhighlystressedshort-termprotection,suchashaulageroutes(section2.2,7.1and7.3),orcontainingJapaneseknotweedinthelongterm(sections4,5and8.5).Rootbarriermembranesmustbemadeofamaterialthatisfitforpurpose.Itshouldbemadeofamaterialthatcanbe:

a) usedwithoutdamage;

b) providedinlargesizes,tominimisetheneed forseals;

c) sealedsecurely;

d) remainintactforatleast50years(guaranteed bythemanufacturer);

e) resistUVdamageifusedwhereitisexposed tosunlight;

f) buriedwithoutpollutinggroundwater fromchemicalsleachedfromit.Comparewith ‘membrane’,above.

Sett:Thesystemoftunnelsandchambersusedbybadgersandprotectedbylaw.

Tines:Longpointedteethattachedtoadiggerbuckettorakeoutrhizome.

Viable:Capableofgrowingintoanewplant.

Wasteexemption:Whenthedisposalofwasteisdeemednottopresentarisktopublichealthortheenvironment.

WasteManagementLicensingRegulations(WMLR)1994:WMLR1994describe‘wasterelevantobjectives’inParagraph4ofSchedule4.Theseobjectivesrequirethatwasteisrecoveredordisposedof“withoutendangeringhumanhealthandwithoutusingprocessesormethodswhichcouldharmtheenvironmentandinparticularwithoutrisktowater,air,soil,plantsoranimals;orcausingnuisancethroughnoiseorodours;oradverselyaffectingthecountrysideorplacesofspecialinterest”

Wasterelevantobjectives:SeeWasteManagementLicensingRegulations(WMLR)1994,above.

WildlifeandCountrysideAct1981(WCA1981):Section14(2)statesthat“ifanypersonplantsorotherwisecausestogrowinthewildanyplantwhichisincludedinPartIIofSchedule9,heshallbeguiltyofanoffence.”JapaneseknotweedisoneoftheplantslistedintheSchedule.


AguidetoJapaneseknotweedrhizomeidentificationandexcavation

AguidetoJapaneseknotweedrhizomeidentificationandexcavation

“Finger-nailsizedsectionsofrhizome

0.7ginweightcanregenerateintoanew

knotweedplant.”

i) What is Japanese knotweed?JapaneseknotweedFallopia japonicawasintroducedintotheUKduringthemid-nineteenthcenturyasanornamentalplant.IthassincebecomeoneofthemostproblematicinvasiveweedsinEurope(seeSection1ofCode)

Japaneseknotweedisaperennialweed,producingtallcanes,upto3m(10feet)inheightduringthesummer.Thecaneshavecharacteristicpurpleflecks,andproducebranchesfromnodesalongitslength.Thesebranchessupportshovel-shapedleavesandclustersofwhiteflowersinautumn.Thecanesdieoffinwinter,turningbrownandsheddingtheirleaves.Thisproducesdensemulchthatprecludesthegrowthofnativeplants.

ii) What is Japanese knotweed rhizome?Japaneseknotweedcanesgrowfromdensecrownsthatalsoproduceextensiveundergroundstems,calledrhizomes.Theserhizomesalsoproducefine,white,hair-likeroots.Itishardtostatewithcertaintythelikelyextentofrhizomespreadfromtheparentplant.Researchhasshownthatrhizomecangrowadistanceofatleast7m(23feet)andachieveadepthofatleast2m(6feet)fromtheparentcrown.However,theactualextentoftherhizomecanvaryconsiderablydependingonthesoiltypeandthehistoryofthesite.Manyknotweedinfestationsstartlifeasaresultoffly-tippedwaste,andrepeatedapplicationsofwasteontopoftheinitialinfestationcanresultinadeepmatrixofrhizome.


Thisguideshouldbeusedinconjunctionwiththe

EnvironmentAgencycodeofpractice,‘managingJapanese

knotweedondevelopmentsites’.Ithasbeenproducedas

aseparateguidetofacilitateuseduringexcavations.

AppendixI

Inadditiontotherhizomedescribedwithintheidentificationchart,verynewrhizomegrowth,delicateandwhiteinappearance,canbefoundduringthegrowingseason.

v) How do I remove rhizome?Putsimply,removetherhizomewithextremecare.Itisimportanttoreadthecodeofpracticebeforestartingexcavation.Themajorityofknotweedrhizomeisconfinedtothetop0.5mofsoil.Removethesoilbyfirstscrapingoffthecrownsandsurfacerhizomeandputtingtooneside.Crownsandrhizomecanbedriedandburned(seeSection5.2ofCode)priortotreatmentwiththeremainingsoil.Crownmaterialinparticularisresistanttoburning;thereforeitisimportanttoregardthismaterialasstillpotentiallyinfectious.

Thenext0.5-1mofsoilcanthenberemovedandputaside,andthentheremainingsoiltoadepthofapproximately3mcanbeexcavated.Thismaterialshouldformthebaseofabund(SeeSection5.5ofCode),orthetoplayerofburiedmaterial(SeeSections5.4and4.1ofCode).Thisprocessofexcavationcanbeproportionedtoanydepthofexcavation,ratherthanadoptingthe3mgeneraliseddepth.

Guidanceonthecontainmentandmovementofknotweed-infestedsoilisprovidedwithinSections2,6and7oftheCodeofPractice.

Carefuluseoftheinformationwithinthisguideshouldenableoperatorstoeffectivelyinspecttheedgeoftheirexcavationforremainingrhizome.Dependingonthehistoryofthesite,thedepthtowhichknotweedrhizomeextendscanvarybetween0.5m–10m.Thehistoryoftheinfestation,soiltypeandthewatertablecanallhaveaprofoundimpactontheextentofrhizome.Situationsinwhichrhizomeisgreaterthan3mtendstobeassociatedwithsituationsinwhichadditionalwastehasbeenregularlydumpedonanestablishedknotweedstand,orwind-blownsandhascreatedadunesystem.

Carefulexcavationofrhizomehasthepotentialtosignificantlyreducethevolumeofwasteremovedinsteadofsimplyexcavatinga7mx3mvolumeofsoil.Italsoensureseffectiveremovalinsituationswherea7mx3mexcavationisanunder-estimate.Inallcasestheprecautionaryapproachmustbeadoptedratherthanriskleavingrhizomebehind.

iii) Why is it important to be able to identify Japanese knotweed rhizome?Whilstknotweedcanregeneratefromsmallsectionsofcane,mostknotweedintheUKarisesfromrhizomeandcrownmaterial.Finger-nailsizedsectionsofrhizome0.7ginweightcanregenerateintoanewknotweedplant.Itappearsthattheregenerativepotentialofrhizomevaries.Thick,oldwoodytissueappearstobelessabletoproducenewgrowththancrownmaterialorthinnersucculentrhizome.Thishasimplicationsforthoseexcavatingknotweedrhizomes,wherethereisariskofthinterminalrhizomefromtheedgeofthecutbeingoverlooked,whichwouldhaveahighregenerativepotential.

Thereareoftensituationsinwhichitisnecessarytobeabletoidentifyrhizomewithoutthebenefitofintactknotweedcanesforassistance.Ifasiteisundisturbeditisfairlyeasytorecognisecharacteristicsummergrowth,orthedeadwintercanes.Ifthesitehasalreadybeenscraped,itisnecessarytoinspectthewastematerialforevidenceofknotweed;deadcanes,leavesandrhizome,toestablishiftheweedispresentonsite.Knowledgeofrhizomeidentificationisthenrequiredtoidentifythelocationandextentoftheinfestation.

Thecostofknotweedmanagementcanbesignificantlyreducedifknotweedandnon-knotweedwastestreamscanbekeptseparate.Ifpoorinitialmanagementofasitehasalreadyprecludedthisoption,thisshouldbeofgreatconcerntoanysubsequentdeveloper.

Wastehauliersalsoneedtotakecaretoinspectwastematerialpriortoacceptingit(SeeSection6.2ofCode).SoilcontainingviableknotweedmaterialisnotsuitablefordisposalunderanexemptionfromSection34oftheEnvironmentalProtectionAct1990.Section34imposesadutyofcareonapersonwhoproduces,imports,carries,keeps,treatsordisposesofcontrolledwaste,oractsasabrokerforsuchwastes.

iv) How do I recognise rhizome?Anidentificationchartforknotweedrhizome,andacomparisonwithothercommonlyencounteredroots,isprovidedwithinAppendixII.TheformerWelshDevelopmentAgency,nowpartoftheWelshAssemblyGovernment,hasproducedatabularguidetotheidentificationofknotweedrhizomethatisreproducedinAppendixIIIwiththeirkindpermission.


Plants commonly found on development sites

External appearance of root or rhizome

Snap Test

Scrape Test

Notallrhizomeregeneratesinthesamemannerandthefactorsthatdeterminerhizomeregenerationarethesubjectofresearch.Itappearsthatolderrhizomebecomeswoody,andtendstobeutilisedbytheplantforfoodstorage,whereasthefreshyoungrhizomeismorecarrot-likeandmuchmoreinfectious.Therefore,thesmallpiecesattheextremeedgeoftherhizomeringarepotentiallythemostinfectious,andthereforerequirethegreatestofcare.Itisgoodpracticetoexcavateanother0.5maroundtheperimeterofthecutafterallrhizomehasbeenapparentlyremovedasafurtherprecaution.

Rhizomeisanundergroundstem,ratherthanaroot,andwilltendtospreadlaterally.Therhizomeattheperipheryofthematrixwilltendtobeshallow,thereforetheexcavationusuallydescribesasaucer-shapedprofile.

Havingexcavatedtherhizomeitisessentialthatwastestreamsarekeptseparateandthatrhizomeisnotallowedtocontaminatespoilthathasbeenremovedfromareasfreefromrhizome.

Remember:Donotexcavaterhizomeunlessyou

haveto,especiallyifyoudonothavethe

capacitytotreatthematerialonsite.

A0.7gpieceofrhizomeisapproximatelythesizeofyourlittlefingernail,andthismaybecapableofgrowingintoanewplant.

Thematrixoftherhizomewillvaryinsizeandextent,dependingonthenatureandhistoryofthesite.Carefuluseofthisguidewillminimisethewaste

youproduceandsignificantlyreduceyourcosts.

Rhizomemayremaindormantforatleast20years.Dormantrhizomemayregrowifitisdisturbed.Lackofregrowthisnotevidenceoferadication.

Avoidspreadingrhizomebyfollowingtheguidancegivenwithintheknotweedcodeofpractice.

IfyouspreadrhizomeintotheenvironmentyoumaybeliabletoprosecutionundertheWildlife&CountrysideAct1981.

Root / rhizome identification chart - Japanese knotweed

Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica(and other Asiatic invasive knotweeds).Japaneseknotweediscommonlyencounteredonbrownfieldsites,wheresoildisturbanceandfly-tippingarecommon.Closeproximitytorivers,roadsandrailwaysmayalsoprovideasourceofinvasion.


Colour:Darkbrown,lighterwhendried.

Texture:Smoothskin,becomingroughwhendesiccated.

Features:oftenforminglongknottylengths.Maysupportsmallredbuds,particularlyoncrowns(baseofstem).Finehair-likerootscommon,particularlyonthinnersections.

Snapability:Easy.Verycarrot-likeinstructureandcolourwhenfresh.Morewoodywhendry.Oldermaterial,particularlynearthecrown,canbeverywoody.Colourcanvaryfromdeepredtopaleyellow,withorangethemostcommon.Youngerfreshmaterialusuallyhasadifferentcolouredcore.

Outer layer:Thinskin,easilyremovedwhenfresh.

Inner layer:Palethreadsoftenrunthroughdarkerfibrousflesh,particularlyinlargerrhizome.Oftenvariationsincolourthroughrhizomewhensplitlengthways.Crownmaterialisoftencakedwithsoilandcanbehardtorecognise.Cleaningshouldrevealredbudsandcharacteristicflesh.

AppendixII



Snap Test

Scrape Test

Root / rhizome identification chart - knotweed

Buddleja (Butterfly bush):Introducedshrub(intro:1890),colonisingwastegroundandmasonry.Spreadbyseed.Pink,purpleorwhiteflowers.Corkybark.Silverundersidetoleaves.

Colour:Palebrown.

Texture:Bark-like.

Features:Barkeasilydamagedandrevealingthewoodycore.Tough.

Snapability:Verypoor.Tendstoripratherthanbreakcleanly.Distinctcore.

Outer layer:Thinwrinkledbark.

Inner layer:Whitewood.

Root / Rhizome identification chart - other common plants



Snap Test

Scrape Test

Dock:Commonondisturbedgroundandintopsoil.AgriculturalweedandcoveredbytheWeedsAct1959.Closestnativeplanttoknotweed,sosimilarrootappearance.

Colour:palered/brown.

Texture:Fleshyskin.

Features:Tapering,withbranchesclusterednearthetip.Lackingtheknottyappearanceofknotweed.

Snapability:Easy.Rubbery,butlacksthecarrot-likesnappinessofknotweed.Coreissimilarcolourtotherestoftheroot,lackingthecolourvariationofknotweedrhizome.

Outer layer:Thinskin,similartoknotweed.

Inner layer:fleshy,withadistinctcore.Orange/yellowincolour,butusuallypalerthanknotweed.


AppendixIII



Snap Test

Scrape Test

Root / rhizome identification chart - knotweed

Sycamore (and most other trees):Treesarecommoncolonisersofwasteground.Theirrootsareoccasionallymistakenforrhizome.

Colour:Mid-brown.

Texture:Fairlysmoothandeven.

Features:Doesnotfragmentaseasilyasknotweed.Tendtoremainintaperedsections.Finerootlets.

Snapability:Verypoor.Verywoody,tendingtobreakandtearratherthansnap.Fairlyuniformincolourandstructure.

Outer layer:Toughbark.

Inner layer:Palecolouredwood.

Root / Rhizome identification chart - other common plants



Snap Test

Scrape Test

Elder: Nativeshrub,typicalofdisturbedgroundandwasteland.Whiteclustersofflowersinspring,blackberriesinautumn.

Colour:Palebrown/yellow

Texture:Fleshyandsmooth.Wrinkledifdesiccated.

Features:Fleshyrootlets.

Snapability:Reasonable.Thinsectionssnap,butlargersectionsaretoowoody.Tendstotear.

Outer layer:Skineasilyremoved.

Inner layer:Whitefleshylayerwithapalewoodycore.


General characteristics Yes No

Twig-likeappearance

Table for the identification of Japanese knotweed rhizome

Fleshywithhardnesslikecarrot

Exterior of rhizome Yes No

Colourdarkbrown,likecoffeegranules

Textureoftheouterbarkleathery

Brittlewhenfresh,breakeasilylikecarrot

Youngrhizomeiswhiteandverysoft

Whenbarkisremoved,tissueispaleorange/yellow

Nodesat1-2cmspacing

Nodesslightlyenlargedand‘knotty’

Atnodeswhitefibrousrootsarecommon

Ifpresent,freshbudsatnodesarered/pink

Interiorofrhizome

Longitudinal view Yes No

Colour:paleorangeandlightyellow,similartoacarrot

Centralcoreisusuallydarkorange/brown,likerust,andsometimeshollow

Cross section Yes No

Cortexwithrayscomingfromcentre,likespokesfromawheel

TOTAL

Ifthe‘yesscoreisgreaterthanthe‘no’

score,thentreattheidentifiedrhizome

asJapaneseknotweed.

ReproducedwithkindpermissionoftheformerWelshDevelopmentAgency,nowpartoftheWelshAssemblyGovernment.

ManagementplanforJapaneseknotweedat:

Tableofcontents

1. INTRODUCTIONTOTHESITE 2 1.1 Descriptionofthesite

1.2 Sitemanagementobjectives

1.3 Limitationsandthreatstomanagementobjectives

1.4 Inventoryofthesite

2. OVERVIEWOFMANAGEMENTPLAN 3 2.1 Briefdescriptionofmanagementplan

2.2 Settingpriorities

2.3 Preventingfurtherspread

3. SPECIFICCONTROLPLANSFORJAPANESEKNOTWEED 4 3.1 Managementobjectives

3.2 Managementoptions

3.3 Actionsplanned

3.4 Howactionswillbeevaluated

3.5 Resourceneeds

3.6 Resultsofevaluation

4. SUMMARYINFORMATION 5 Table1: Priorityareas

Table2: Controlmethods

Table3: Implementationschedule

Table4: Projectedresourcesandcosts

5. REFERENCES 6

6. APPENDICES 7 Appendix1. SitemapsandJapaneseknotweeddistributiondaps

Appendix2. Japaneseknotweedrecordingsheet

Appendix3. Formsforcollectingmonitoringdata

Appendix4. Herbiciderecords

Appendix5. Wasterecords

Appendix6. Usefulcontacts

Periodcovered:

Prepairedby: Date:


AppendixIV AppendixV

Descriptionofmethodstobeemployedtopreventfurtherspread:Includeforexample: • IsolationofJapaneseknotweedonsitebyfencingtoavoiddisturbanceduringtreatment.

• Assessmentofriskofre-invasionofJapaneseknotweedfromadjacentland.

• LiaisonwithadjacentlandownerstotreatJapaneseknotweedwhichposesarisktothesite.

• ProcedurestoensurethatimportedmaterialsarefreefromJapaneseknotweed.

• Identificationofdesignatedhaulroutesthroughsitetoavoidcontamination.

Descriptionoftrainingtobegiventositeoperatorsandcontractorsduringdevelopment:Includeforexampleidentificationoftheplant(bothaboveandbelowgroundparts)andtrainingonsitepracticesto

preventfurtherspread.

2.3 Preventing Further Spread

Examples: • AreasofJapaneseknotweedonsitewhichrequirerapidtreatmentwillbeidentified.

• Preventionoffurtherinfestationoftheplantonthesiteisapriority.

• Replacementvegetation/habitatwillbeconsideredratherthanjusteliminatingJapaneseknotweed.

• Controlmethodswhichsuitthelocationandtimescalewillbeadopted.

• Implementationwillbebasedontheaboveinformation.

• Regularmonitoringwillbecarriedout.

• Managementwillberevisedinresponsetofeedbackfromtheabove.

Assignprioritytoeachmanagementobjective:(e.g.High,MediumLow)-Recordprioritiesforeachlocationofthe

plantinTable1.

2.2 Setting Priorities

AllocatepersonneltooverseeJapaneseknotweedmanagementandtoberesponsibleforsign–offattheendofthetreatmentperiod:

Descriptionofthesiteboundaries,topography,access,specialfeatures:Includemapsofsitepreandpost

developmentinAppendix1.

DescriptionoftheJapaneseknotweeddistributiononsiteandadjacenttothesite:IncludedetailedmapsshowinglocationofJapaneseknotweedandexactareacovered(allocateauniqueidentification

numbertoeachlocationofJapaneseknotweedonsitee.g.JK001,JK002etc).

Completearecordingsheetforeachlocation(seeAppendix2)IfJapaneseknotweedispresentonadjacentland,record

distributionanddetailsoflanduseandlandownership.

1.4 Inventory of the Site

DescriptionofhowthepresenceofJapaneseknotweedposesathreatto,orlimitsmanagementobjectives.Includeforexample: • Increasingcostsofdevelopment

• Delaysinschedulingofworks

• Damageorpotentialdamagecausedbytheplant

• PotentialforspreadofJapaneseknotweedfromwithinandoutsidethesiteboundary

(e.g.withinthesite,fromadjacentlandorviawatercourses)

• PotentialforimportofJapaneseknotweedonmaterials

1.3 Limitations and Threats to Site Management Objectives

Briefdescriptionoftheexistingsite(priortoanydevelopment):Includepresenceofanynatureconservation

features–e.g.protectedspecies;vegetationtoberetained;watercourses(includeproximityofstreamsorriversif

adjacenttothesite);buildingstoberetained;drainageonsite;otherrelevantfeatures.

Briefdescriptionoftheproposeddevelopment:Includeanyproposedimportorexportofsoils.

Briefdescriptionofthesitepost-development:Includeanypartsofthesitedesignatedforlandscaping,

conservationareasetc.

1.1 Description of the Site

Briefdescriptionofsitemanagementobjectives:Includeproposedtimescaleandplansforrestoration/re-

planting.

1.2 Site Management Objectives

Overview of weed management planIntroduction to the site

2.1 Brief Description of Management Plan

DRAFT TEMPLATE DRAFT TEMPLATE


Sitename:

Responsiblemanager: Dateplanlastupdated:

Brieflydescribethelocationstobetreated,materialsandmethodstobeused,andanapproximatescheduleforcontrolandmonitoringactivities.RecorddetailsinTable2.

3.3 Actions planned (treatments and monitoring)

Viablecontroloptionsare: • Notreatment;

• Treatmentalternative1

• Treatmentalternative2etc.

Brieflydiscussthealternatives,indicatewhicharepreferredandtheconditions(sizeofareatreated,location,timing,

totalanticipatedcost,etc.)underwhichtheymaybeused.

Buildinrestrictedflexibilitytoallowconditionsonsitetobetakenintoconsideration.Statewhothesiteoperatives

shouldcontactwhennoneofthelistedalternativescanbecarriedout.

3.2 Management options

Establishmeasurableobjectivesfortheplannedcontrolactivities.Include: • theimpactondensity,cover,etc.thatyouwanttoachieve;

• thesizeoftheareainwhichyouhopetoachievethis;

• theperiodinwhichyouhopetoachieveit.

Examples: Objective1. EliminationofJapaneseknotweedonallpartsofthesitewithin5years.

Objective2. Reducepercentagecoverby50%on1haofthesitewithin2years.

Objective3. PreventionoffurtherspreadofJapaneseknotweedonsite.

Objective4. Co-ordinationwithadjacentlandownerstocommenceactivetreatmentofJapaneseknotweedin

adjacentareaswithin1year.

3.1 Management objectives (measurable)

Summary informationSpecific control plans for Japanese knotweed

Table 1 - Priority areas

Outlinethemethodsthatwillbeusedtomonitorcontrolactivitiesandthecriteriathatwillbeusedtoevaluatesuccessorfailureoftheprogram.Thecriteriaforsuccessshouldbebasedontheprogram’sobjectivesand

goals.(DatasheetstobeusedwhencollectingmonitoringdatashouldbeincludedinAppendix3).

3.4 How actions will be evaluated (criteria for success)

Estimatetheamountoftimeforstaff,materials,contractorsetc.andmoneythatwillberequiredtocarryouttheplannedcontrol,monitoringandevaluation.RecordinTable4.

3.5 Resource needs

Thissectionistobefilledinlater,preferablywithin1year,whenmonitoringdatahasbeentakenandevaluated.Theevaluationshouldbeusedtodeterminewhetheranyofthesections3.1-3.5aboveshouldbemodified.

3.6 Results of evaluation

Area Descriptionandjustificationsofpriority Prioritylevel

Table 2 - Control Methods

Area ControlMethod Carriedoutby

Table 3 - Implementation ScheduleScheduletheplanning,surveying,andtreatmentforJapaneseknotweedforatleastthenextyear.

TreatmentSchedule Date

Table 4 - Projected resources and costsRevisethistableannuallyaftercomparingestimatedtoactualcosts.

Item Description Projectedresources Projectedcosts ActualCosts

References

Listreferencescitedorused.Forexample:

Child,L.E.andWade,P.M.(2000)TheJapaneseKnotweedManual.PackardPublishingLimited,Chichester.ISBN1853411272

EnvironmentAgencyandCornwallCountyCouncil(1998)Japaneseknotweed.Howtocontrolitandpreventitsspread.EnvironmentAgency,Bodmin.

EnvironmentAgencyandCornwallCountyCouncil(2001)Japaneseknotweed.Guidanceforhouseholdersandlandowners.CornwallCountyCouncil.

WelshDevelopmentAgency(1998)ThecontrolofJapaneseknotweedinconstructionandlandscapecontracts:Modelspecification.FormerWelshDevelopmentAgency,nowpartoftheWelshAssemblyGovernment.

WelshDevelopmentAgency(1998)TheeradicationofJapaneseknotweed:Modeltenderdocument.FormerWelshDevelopmentAgency,nowpartoftheWelshAssemblyGovernment.


DRAFT TEMPLATE


Remarks:

Attachcopiesofthemap(s)ofthesite,andofmapsdepictingtheextentoftheJapaneseknotweedonthesite.

Appendix 1 - Distribution maps

Appendices

ExampleofJapaneseknotweedRecordingSheet(completeanewsheetforeachareaofJapaneseknotweed).

Appendix 2 - Japanese knotweed recording sheet

Averageheightofstems

Max.stemdiameterat30cmaboveground

Vegetationcomposition

Proximitytowatercourses

Slope

>2.5m

>2.5cm

1-2.5m

1-2cm

<1m

<1cm

Mixtureofknotweed&othervegetation

Japaneseknotweedonly

SteepModerateFlat

Sitename:

Recordedby: Date:

Gridref: Siteref:

m m

AreaofJapaneseknotweed-NB.MarkoutlineofareaofJapaneseknotweedonsitemapandannotatewithsiteref.

no.Ifpatchmeasures<1.0m2,markas+onmapandannotatewithsiteref.no.

Yes No

Canal

Roundabout

Graveyard

Landscapedarea

Business/IndustrialHousing

Garden

Farmland

CarPark

Riverbank

Pond Seafront

Streamside

Roadverge

Woodland

Park

Shops

Other,specifyhedgerow

Dock

Railwayembankment

Wasteground

Recreationground

Publicbuildings

Landuse-Recordprimarylanduseas1andsecondaryuseas2etc.e.g.landscapedareaadjacenttoriverbankrecord

asRiverbank1;Landscapedarea2.

DRAFT TEMPLATE

Attachcopiesofdatacollectionsheets.

Appendix 3 - Forms used in collecting monitoring data

Attachdetailsofherbicidesused,doserateandapplicationratesanddatesapplied.

Appendix 4 - Herbicide records

AttachdetailsofwasterecordsforanymaterialcontainingJapaneseknotweedtakenoffsite.

Appendix 5 - Waste records

AttachdetailsofContractors,LocalAuthoritycontact,EnvironmentAgencycontact,adjacentlandownersetc.

Appendix 6 - Useful contacts


ManagementplanforJapaneseknotweedat:

Periodcovered:

Prepairedby: Date:N.E. Body

2006-2010

April 2006


Tableofcontents

1. INTRODUCTIONTOTHESITE 2 1.1 Descriptionofthesite

1.2 Sitemanagementobjectives

1.3 Limitationsandthreatstomanagementobjectives

1.4 Inventoryofthesite

2. OVERVIEWOFMANAGEMENTPLAN 3 2.1 Briefdescriptionofmanagementplan

2.2 Settingpriorities

2.3 Preventingfurtherspread

3. SPECIFICCONTROLPLANSFORJAPANESEKNOTWEED 4 3.1 Managementobjectives

3.2 Managementoptions

3.3 Actionsplanned

3.4 Howactionswillbeevaluated

3.5 Resourceneeds

3.6 Resultsofevaluation

4. SUMMARYINFORMATION 5 Table1: Priorityareas

Table2: Controlmethods

Table3: Implementationschedule

Table4: Projectedresourcesandcosts

5. REFERENCES 6

6. APPENDICES 7 Appendix1. SitemapsandJapaneseknotweeddistributionmaps

Appendix2. Japaneseknotweedrecordingsheet

Appendix3. Formsforcollectingmonitoringdata

Appendix4. Herbiciderecords

Appendix5. Wasterecords

Appendix6. Usefulcontacts

AppendixVI

Briefdescriptionoftheexistingsite(priortoanydevelopment):Includepresenceofanynatureconservation

features–e.g.protectedspecies;vegetationtoberetained;watercourses(includeproximityofstreamsorriversif

adjacenttothesite);buildingstoberetained;drainageonsite;otherrelevantfeatures.

Briefdescriptionoftheproposeddevelopment:Includeanyproposedimportorexportofsoils.

Briefdescriptionofthesitepost-development:Includeanypartsofthesitedesignatedforlandscaping,

conservationareasetc.

1.1 Description of the Site

Introduction to the site DRAFT TEMPLATE

The site is a brown-field industrial site formerly a textiles factory which has been vacant for 10 years. Buildings were demolished some 8 years ago. The site covers an area of approximately 6.5 ha. and is surrounded by mature hedgerows with some mature trees. A watercourse runs along the southern boundary of the site in an westerly direction. Existing vegetation cover is rough ruderal vegetation with several patches of Japanese knotweed within the site and adjacent to the watercourse.

The development will require site levelling, construction of a service road, installation of drainage and services and the construction of a building. Some material will be exported and the remaining inert material will be used on-site in construction works. Import of top soils for landscaping around car parking and communal areas will be required.

The proposed development will incorporate 3 sports pitches and a car parking area with a club house and facilities to the north eastern corner. A service road will provide access onto the site. Hedgerows to be retained and landscaping to be carried out in the vicinity of the clubhouse. A conservation area to the southern boundary is proposed alongside the watercourse.

Briefdescriptionofsitemanagementobjectives:Includeproposedtimescaleandplansforrestoration/re-planting.

1.2 Site Management Objectives

The site is expected to be operational 24 months after works commence. Landscape planting and restoration of the boundary hedgerows and riparian vegetation will be carried out during the construction period.

Introduction to the site DRAFT TEMPLATE

DescriptionofhowthepresenceofJapaneseknotweedposesathreatto,orlimitsmanagementobjectives.Includeforexample: • Increasingcostsofdevelopment

• Delaysinschedulingofworks

• Damageorpotentialdamagecausedbytheplant

• PotentialforspreadofJapaneseknotweedfromwithinandoutsidethesiteboundary

(e.g.withinthesite,fromadjacentlandorviawatercourses)

• PotentialforimportofJapaneseknotweedonmaterials

1.3 Limitations and Threats to Site Management Objectives

The presence of Japanese knotweed on site will increase the financial burden on this project both in terms of treatment costs and in delays in scheduling construction works. Any Japanese knotweed left untreated has the potential to damage hard surfaces and sports pitches and to delay the landscaping. A large area of Japanese knotweed exists outside the site to the eastern boundary and there is potential for further spread into the site along the watercourse. The development will necessitate the export of some material and the import of top soils for landscaping and for sports pitches. Materials leaving or brought onto site should be checked to ensure that Japanese knotweed does not leave or enter the site via this route.

Descriptionofthesiteboundaries,topography,access,specialfeatures:Includemapsofsitepreandpost

developmentinAppendix1.

DescriptionoftheJapaneseknotweeddistributiononsiteandadjacenttothesite:IncludedetailedmapsshowinglocationofJapaneseknotweedandexactareacovered(allocateauniqueidentification

numbertoeachlocationofJapaneseknotweedonsitee.g.JK001,JK002etc).

Completearecordingsheetforeachlocation(seeAppendix2)IfJapaneseknotweedispresentonadjacentland,record

distributionanddetailsoflanduseandlandownership.

1.4 Inventory of the Site

The site is reasonably level with access from the B4452 on the western boundary. The site slopes down steeply towards the watercourse on the southern boundary and there is potential in this area to accommodate a conservation area. Two mature Willow trees are located in the south western corner of the site.

Boundaries to the northern, western and eastern edges of the site are composed of mature hedgerow species including Hawthorn, Field maple, Blackthorn with some mature Ash and Oak trees.

There are 6 distinct patches of well established Japanese knotweed on the site in addition to 2 areas where a few stems have become established. These are described in the accompanying maps and recording sheets. On adjacent land to the east of the site, a large area of Japanese knotweed is present adjacent to the watercourse. Total area of Japanese knotweed on site is estimated at 1,900m2. Total area of Japanese knotweed on adjacent land is estimated at 500 m2.


Descriptionofmethodstobeemployedtopreventfurtherspread:Includeforexample: • IsolationofJapaneseknotweedonsitebyfencingtoavoiddisturbanceduringtreatment.

• Assessmentofriskofre-invasionofJapaneseknotweedfromadjacentland.

• LiaisonwithadjacentlandownerstotreatJapaneseknotweedwhichposesarisktothesite.

• ProcedurestoensurethatimportedmaterialsarefreefromJapaneseknotweed.

• Identificationofdesignatedhaulroutesthroughsitetoavoidcontamination.

Descriptionoftrainingtobegiventositeoperatorsandcontractorsduringdevelopment:Includeforexampleidentificationoftheplant(bothaboveandbelowgroundparts)andtrainingonsitepracticesto

preventfurtherspread.

2.3 Preventing Further Spread

Overview of weed management planOverview of weed management plan DRAFT TEMPLATE DRAFT TEMPLATE

AllocatepersonneltooverseeJapaneseknotweedmanagementandtoberesponsibleforsign–offattheendofthetreatmentperiod:

2.1 Brief Description of Management Plan

The Management of Japanese knotweed on site shall be overseen by the site foreman and in his absence, his deputy. This Management Plan and appendices and revisions of this plan shall be kept for future site owners. This Management Plan should be read in conjunction with the Environment Agency Code of Practice.

Examples: • AreasofJapaneseknotweedonsitewhichrequirerapidtreatmentwillbeidentified.

• Preventionoffurtherinfestationoftheplantonthesiteisapriority.

• Replacementvegetation/habitatwillbeconsideredratherthanjusteliminatingJapaneseknotweed.

• Controlmethodswhichsuitthelocationandtimescalewillbeadopted.

• Implementationwillbebasedontheaboveinformation.

• Regularmonitoringwillbecarriedout.

• Managementwillberevisedinresponsetofeedbackfromtheabove.

Assignprioritytoeachmanagementobjective:(e.g.High,MediumLow)-Recordprioritiesforeachlocationofthe

plantinTable1.

2.2 Setting Priorities

High Priority• Areas of Japanese knotweed which require rapid treatment - JK002 on site access route JK004 overlying site drainage route JK005 and JK008 on land proposed for sports pitches.

• Prevention of further spread. All Japanese knotweed areas to be isolated prior to any work being carried out on site. This to include an area of at least 7 m laterally from above ground stems to ensure that any underground parts are also isolated.

• All personnel on site to receive training on identification of Japanese knotweed both above and below ground parts.

Medium Priority• Control Methods for remaining areas of Japanese knotweed. A range of control methods will be adopted to include excavation and stock piling for future treatment (bund method), in-situ herbicide treatment and a combination of digging and subsequent herbicide application (combination method). Herbicides will be selected which are suitable for site use e.g. restrictions on herbicides which can be used in or near water.

• Monitoring - A scheme for monitoring will be agreed with the site foreman who will be ultimately responsible for overseeing the control of Japanese knotweed on site.

• Management - This management plan will be reviewed on a regular basis and in any case every 6 months from site acquisition to site completion.

Low Priority• Replacement vegetation. JK003 adjacent to watercourse once eliminated should be replaced with grass cover to prevent bankside erosion.

All areas affected by Japanese knotweed to be fenced and isolated from activities on site immediately to avoid potential for spread on-site. An area including a perimeter of at least 7m from the above ground stems should be isolated. See Environment Agency Code of Practice 2.1, 2.2

There is a high risk of invasion from neighbouring land. Contact the landowner and agree on a co-ordinated treatment programme.

No material to leave the site from the isolated Japanese knotweed areas.All topsoil and materials brought onto site to be checked prior to accepting. See Environment Agency Code of Practice 2.3No new materials to be stored adjacent to Japanese knotweed isolated areas.

No movement of Japanese knotweed contaminated material across site unless on designated haul routes, avoiding Japanese knotweed isolated areas.

All contractors and site operatives on site to receive training in Japanese knotweed identification and site practices. Training to be given on day 1. Posters highlighting the key features of the plant to be displayed in all communal areas (see Environment Agency Code of Practice Appendices I-IV).


Sitename:

Responsiblemanager: Dateplanlastupdated:

Establishmeasurableobjectivesfortheplannedcontrolactivities.Include: • theimpactondensity,cover,etc.thatyouwanttoachieve;

• thesizeoftheareainwhichyouhopetoachievethis;

• theperiodinwhichyouhopetoachieveit.

Examples: Objective1. EliminationofJapaneseknotweedonallpartsofthesitewithin5years.

Objective2. Reducepercentagecoverby50%on1haofthesitewithin2years.

Objective3. PreventionoffurtherspreadofJapaneseknotweedonsite.

Objective4. Co-ordinationwithadjacentlandownerstocommenceactivetreatmentofJapaneseknotweedin

adjacentareaswithin1year.

3.1 Management objectives (measurable)


3.2 Management options - (continued)


Dummy Site

Site Foreman May 2006

Objective 1

• Immediately contain existing Japanese knotweed on site and prevent further spread.

Objective 2• Reduce the percentage cover of Japanese knotweed on site by 50% within 1 year.

Objective 3• Liaise with adjacent landowner to commence active treatment of Japanese knotweed within 1 year.

Objective 4• Eliminate Japanese knotweed on site within 4 years.

Excavation and removal off site is a rapid method of removal but is costly, and in the long term unsustainable. The particular site conditions do not allow for excavation and burial on site to the required depth of 5m (see Environment Agency Code of Practice). As there is sufficient space on site, excavation and stock-piling on site for subsequent herbicide treatment (the bund method) is a viable option particularly for those areas of site which are required to have immediate availability (e.g. access road). The remaining areas of Japanese knotweed could be treated by a combined digging and herbicide treatment or by in-situ herbicide treatment. The range of herbicides available are limited in the case of the affected areas adjacent to the watercourse, but other herbicides could be considered in more open areas away from water and mature trees. It may be necessary to vary the herbicide used or the mode of application once treatment has commenced. This should be discussed and agreed with the approved contractor.


3.3 Actions planned (treatments and monitoring) - (continue on next page)

Viablecontroloptionsare: • Notreatment;

• Treatmentalternative1

• Treatmentalternative2etc.

Brieflydiscussthealternatives,indicatewhicharepreferredandtheconditions(sizeofareatreated,location,timing,

totalanticipatedcost,etc.)underwhichtheymaybeused.

Buildinrestrictedflexibilitytoallowconditionsonsitetobetakenintoconsideration.Statewhothesiteoperatives

shouldcontactwhennoneofthelistedalternativescanbecarriedout.

3.2 Management options - (continue on next page)

The various options for the control of Japanese knotweed include in situ herbicide treatment, combined treatment of digging and herbicide, excavation and stock-piling for future treatment (the bund method), excavation and burial on site or excavation and removal off site. It is not an acceptable option to consider doing nothing.

JK002, JK004, JK005, JK008Control Method: The Bund Method (See Environment Agency Code of Practice 5.4)

• Treat affected area with an appropriate non-persistent herbicide and leave for at least 1 week.

• Cut and remove canes and leave to dry on site for subsequent burning.

• Rake the surface of the affected area with tines to remove crowns and surface material – either leave to dry with canes for burning or spread on top of completed bund.

• Excavate affected area until all rhizome material has been removed.

• Create bund on a layer of geotextile starting with least infected soil and build up to 0.5 m to 1 m in height laying crown material and/or stems on top.

• Treat regrowth with appropriate herbicide.

• Disturb bund after one or two treatments and treat regrowth with appropriate herbicide.

• Continue to treat and disturb until no further regrowth appears.

• Soil from the bund may not be used off-site.



Table 1 - Priority areas

Area Descriptionandjustificationsofpriority Prioritylevel



3.3 Actions planned (treatments and monitoring) - (continued)

Estimatetheamountoftimeforstaff,materials,contractorsetc.andmoneythatwillberequiredtocarryouttheplannedcontrol,monitoringandevaluation.RecordinTable4.

3.5 Resource needs

Thissectionistobefilledinlater,preferablywithin1year,whenmonitoringdatahasbeentakenandevaluated.Theevaluationshouldbeusedtodeterminewhetheranyofthesections3.1-3.5aboveshouldbemodified.

3.6 Results of evaluation

JK001, JK006 - Control Method: Combined Treatment Method (See Environment Agency Code of Practice 3.4)

• Cut and remove canes and leave to dry on site for subsequent burning.

• Rake the surface of the affected area with tines to remove crowns and surface material and burn with canes.

• Cultivate affected area to a depth of at least 50 cm depending on the depth to which the bulk of rhizome material exists.

• Re-spread the excavated material over the cultivated area

• Apply appropriate herbicide to regrowth.

• Check for new growth at 4 - 6 weeks intervals after treatment and re-treat accordingly.

• Repeat cultivation and herbicide application until no further regrowth appears.

JK003, JK007 - Control Method: Application of herbicide to above ground stems in situ using a herbicide approved for use in or near water e.g. glyphosate (See Environment Agency Code of Practice 3.2, 3.3)

• Cut and remove dead canes during winter for subsequent burning.

• Apply herbicide according to the manufacturers guidelines.

• Check for new growth at 4 - 6 week intervals after treatment and re-treat accordingly.

Outlinethemethodsthatwillbeusedtomonitorcontrolactivitiesandthecriteriathatwillbeusedtoevaluatesuccessorfailureoftheprogram.Thecriteriaforsuccessshouldbebasedontheprogram’sobjectivesand

goals.(DatasheetstobeusedwhencollectingmonitoringdatashouldbeincludedinAppendix3).

3.4 How actions will be evaluated (criteria for success)

Monitoring will be carried out by the contractor and the site foreman prior to any treatment being carried out to act as a baseline for future monitoring and every 4 – 6 weeks throughout the growth season. The contractor and site foreman will agree the level of control achieved and the future treatment schedule. Recording sheets will be used to document the percentage cover of Japanese knotweed at each affected area on site over at least 3 representative samples of 1 m2.

JK002, JK004,JK005, JK008

JK002 on proposed access road,JK004 overlying site drainage route.

JK005 and JK008 on land proposed forsports pitches. Rapid treatment required

High

JK001, JK003,JK006, JK007

Stands on or adjacent to site boundariescan be treated in-situ Medium

Table 2 - Control Methods

Area ControlMethod Carriedoutby

JK003 ContractorHerbicide application

JK007 ContractorHerbicide application

JK008 Site operativesand contractor

Bund method


Combination treatment


Bund method


Bund method


Bund method


Combination treatment


Summary information DRAFT TEMPLATE

Attachcopiesofthemap(s)ofthesite,andofmapsdepictingtheextentoftheJapaneseknotweedonthesite.

Appendix 1 - Distribution maps

Appendices

References

Listreferencescitedorused.Forexample:

Child,L.E.andWade,P.M.(2000)TheJapaneseKnotweedManual.PackardPublishingLimited,Chichester.ISBN1853411272

EnvironmentAgencyandCornwallCountyCouncil(1998)Japaneseknotweed.Howtocontrolitandpreventitsspread.EnvironmentAgency,Bodmin.

EnvironmentAgencyandCornwallCountyCouncil(2001)Japaneseknotweed.Guidanceforhouseholdersandlandowners.CornwallCountyCouncil.

WelshDevelopmentAgency(1998)ThecontrolofJapaneseknotweedinconstructionandlandscapecontracts:Modelspecification.FormerWelshDevelopmentAgency,nowpartoftheWelshAssemblyGovernment.

WelshDevelopmentAgency(1998)TheeradicationofJapaneseknotweed:Modeltenderdocument.FormerWelshDevelopmentAgency,nowpartoftheWelshAssemblyGovernment.

DRAFT TEMPLATE

DRAFT TEMPLATE

Table 3 - Implementation ScheduleScheduletheplanning,surveying,andtreatmentforJapaneseknotweedforatleastthenextyear.

TreatmentSchedule-BundMethod Date

Table 4 - Projected resources and costsRevisethistableannuallyaftercomparingestimatedtoactualcosts.

Item Description Projectedresources Projectedcosts ActualCosts

Chemical treatment to be carried outprior to excavation if plants are in leaf. day.month.year

Excavate Japanese knotweed and surrounding areauntil all traces of rhizome are removed.

Stockpile excavated material on protective membrane for treatment.day.month.year

Chemical treatment to be carried out during growingseason (March to September). day.month.year

Apply disturbance to stockpile. day.month.year

Monitor for new growth. day.month.year

Chemical treatment to be carried out during growingseason (March to September). day.month.year

Chemicaltreatment

Contractor toapply herbicide

Materials £ £Labour £ £


Remarks:

ExampleofJapaneseknotweedRecordingSheet(completeanewsheetforeachareaofJapaneseknotweed).

Appendix 2 - Japanese knotweed recording sheet

Averageheightofstems

Max.stemdiameterat30cmaboveground

Vegetationcomposition

Proximitytowatercourses

Slope

>2.5m

>2.5cm

1-2.5m

1-2cm

<1m

<1cm

Mixtureofknotweed&othervegetation

Japaneseknotweedonly

SteepModerateFlat

Sitename:

Recordedby: Date:

Gridref: Siteref:

m m

AreaofJapaneseknotweed-NB.MarkoutlineofareaofJapaneseknotweedonsitemapandannotatewithsiteref.

no.Ifpatchmeasures<1.0m2,markas+onmapandannotatewithsiteref.no.

Yes No

Canal

Roundabout

Graveyard

Landscapedarea

Business/IndustrialHousing

Garden

Farmland

CarPark

Riverbank

Pond Seafront

Streamside

Roadverge

Woodland

Park

Shops

Other,specifyhedgerow

Dock

Railwayembankment

Wasteground

Recreationground

Publicbuildings

Landuse-Recordprimarylanduseas1andsecondaryuseas2etc.e.g.landscapedareaadjacenttoriverbankrecord

asRiverbank1;Landscapedarea2.

Attachcopiesofdatacollectionsheets.

Appendix 3 - Forms used in collecting monitoring data

Attachdetailsofherbicidesused,doserateandapplicationratesanddatesapplied.

Appendix 4 - Herbicide records

AttachdetailsofwasterecordsforanymaterialcontainingJapaneseknotweedtakenoffsite.

Appendix 5 - Waste records

AttachdetailsofContractors,LocalAuthoritycontact,EnvironmentAgencycontact,adjacentlandownersetc.

Appendix 6 - Useful contacts

MMM

Dummy Site

XX 032 033 JK001

5 April 2006

25 18

X

X

X

X

X

1

2

large well established stand

68 Environment AgencyManagingJapaneseknotweedondevelopmentsites

Th

e so

il in

th

is a

rea

con

tain

s Ja

pan

ese

kno

twee

dan

d is

bei

ng

tre

ated

.D

o n

ot

ente

r u

nle

ss a

uth

ori

sed

.D

o n

ot

rem

ove

soil

fro

m t

his

area

wit

ho

ut

auth

ori

sati

on

.

Res

tric

ted

Acc

ess

GE-HO-09/06-BLIV-E-P

Environment first: This publication is printed on paper madefrom 100 per cent previously used waste. By-products from

making the pulp and paper are used for composting and fertiliser, formaking cement and for generating energy.

Would you like to find out more about us,or about your environment?

Then call us on 08708 506 506 (Mon-Fri 8-6)

[email protected]

or visit our website www.environment-agency.gov.uk

incident hotline 0800 80 70 60 (24hrs)

floodline 0845 988 1188

EA Japanese Knotweed Cover SETUP 12/9/06 5:21 pm Page 4

dendro-scott™ root barrier - managing japanese ......4 how do i use root barrier membranes? 20 4.1...

Documents