Japanese knotweed hotspots in Scotland as map shows where invasive plant grows

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Invasive plants can be hugely stressful due to the damage that they can cause to property, and they can be a nightmare to get rid of too.One of these plants is Japanese knotweed which can impact driveway brickwork and wreak havoc on landscaping and DIY projects in your garden.Scotland's worst areas for Japanese knotweed have been revealed as a map allows people to see the 'potential risk to their property'.The map has been set up by the invasive plant specialists at Environet UK and is made of over over 50,000 known infestations.A majority of reported instances are in and surrounding Scotland's major cities, with areas around Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen all having more than 100 sightings in just a four kilometre radius.The worst area appears to be in Glasgow's South Side, with 158 occurrences of Japanese knotweed in a four kilometre radius.Knotweed was introduced from Japan in the 19th century, but due to rapid growth it quickly became a damaging invasive plant.The Environet UK website states: "As well as outcompeting native species, its vast root system has the potential to cause damage to property, including patios and driveways, which is seldom covered by buildings insurance, meaning the plant should be treated or removed as quickly as possible."While having knotweed in a garden isn't itself a crime, a person could be hit by financial penalties for selling a property without declaring the presence of the invasive plant.If you fail to declare a Japanese knotweed infestation you could be taken to court for misrepresenting a property which could see you fined the amount that it costs to resolve the issue.