JAPANESE Knotweed is known for being one of the most invasive plants in the UK and a heatmap has revealed where the hotspots are in Worcestershire.
Homeowners dread the sign of this plant because it has the potential to grow through the cracks in concrete, tarmac, driveways, pathways, cavity walls and drains.
Worcestershire hotspots include Worcester and Droitwich Spa.
Environet said people in Worcester should expect 50 infestations within a 4km radius.
Another hotspot is Droitwich Spa with 27 infestations within the same radius.
Mat Day, director at Environet, said there is currently a large amount of Japanese Knotweed along the River Severn.
The plant, which first came to the UK in 1840, has been making an appearance alongside the Worcester and Birmingham Canal this year.
Mr Day said: "Knotweed is growing rapidly at this time of year – at a rate of up to 10cm per day - and usually reaches its full height of 2 to 2.5 metres tall by the end of May. If you’re selling a property that’s affected by knotweed, you have a legal duty to declare it to the seller so it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the plant’s appearance."
How to spot Japanese Knotweed:
Mr Day said homeowners should look out for the distinctive shovel-shaped vivid green leaves and purple-speckled canes.
"Knotweed is rather a like an iceberg, with the bulk of the plant hidden beneath the ground in its vast rhizome system, so what you can see growing usually isn’t a true reflection of the size of the problem," he added.
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