A common sight around the reserves of late for the early rising visitor has been the alarming sight of Anne - our most dedicated and conscientious Estate Worker - lurking in the undergrowth bedecked in a chemical suit, rubber gauntlets and goggles replete with knapsack sprayer and loppers. The purpose of this elaborate guise is the eradication of one of our most dogged and damaging 'alien' plant species, the dreaded Japanese Knotweed. Since undergoing conversion to organic status in the 1990's JKW has been managed by cutting/ pulling and burning - an almighty undertaking and not terribly successful in inhibiting its spread.
Japanese Knotweed
Last year Anne researched alternative treatments and we settled upon a technique trialled by the University of Exeter involving the cutting of the stems upon flowering and injecting them with the pesticide Glysophate, having firstly removed the organic status of the areas affected. This has had a dramatic affect on the extent of knotweed and has allowed native vegetation to again flourish in its stead. The open area at the top of Buddleia Loop was awash with Marsh Woundwort this summer whereas last year it was clogged and overwhelmed by the more vigorous foreign invader. During the winter we cleared areas where knotweed grew amongst dense brambles to enable Anne access to the hitherto inaccessible stems and thanks to her determination we at last appear to be winning the war. That said a patch of equally damaging Himalayan Balsam cropped up near a drain on Radipole Park Drive last week after a 7 year absence. Thankfully we spotted it and pulled it up before it seeded, but it goes to show that with invasive alien plant species one cannot rest on ones laurels!