Weeds and Untidy Gardens
The Environment Team occasionally receives enquiries about
problems with weeds. The most serious of these enquiries refer to
non-native invasive plants such as Japanese Knotweed (which has
very vigorous growth, is very difficult to eradicate and can cause
damage to buildings and highways) and Giant Hogweed, which is a
particularly nasty plant because it usually causes skin damage
(painful blisters, severe irritation and sometimes recurrent
dermatitis) to children who are attracted to it in the course of
their outdoor playing activities.
Further information about these plants can be found on the
Other weeds that are described as injurious” in the Weeds Act
1959 refer to plants that represent a threat to agriculture and
livestock. These are described in detail in the
Weeds Act Advice
document taken from the DEFRA Website.
The main threat to the public is from Common Ragwort, an
attractive wild plant in Summer due to its bright yellow flowers,
but concealing a poison which can be deadly, particularly to horses
and other animals. This plant can often by seen growing alongside
highways in rural areas.
General enquiries about weeds relating to overgrown or untidy
private gardens are not dealt with by the Environment Team. These
types of situations, when of an extreme nature (in
official terms, detrimental to the amenity of the
area), are usually the responsibility of Planning Enforcement.
Garden rubbish and junk however will generally be dealt with by
the Street Scene Team, under the Clean
Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.