Like many Invasive Non-native Species in the UK, Japanese Knotweed was introduced by Victorian botanists as an ornamental garden plant. Sometimes called "Japanese Bam
boo," due to the visual similarites of its stems, but it's shield-shaped leaves and purple speckled stems give it a striking appearance. The small white flowers that it produces in summer are mostly unable to set seed in the UK, but the plant is able to spread via other means. The root of the plant can spread underground forming new stems and even small fragments of the plant can create new roots.
It dies back every winter but a well-established plant can easily regrow to 7ft every summer. This can easily suffocate our native wildflowers which in turn greatly affects our native pollinators.
Japanese Knotweed is an incredibly difficult plant to eradicate as cutting the plant back, digging it up or using external herbicides is not enough to kill it. It requires several consecutive years of treatment with stem injections to remove it entirely.
Unfortunately, there are a few patches of the plant around Peel Park and the Coppice LNR, including the car park, at the top of Plantation Road, and near the Hodder St entrance. Please take care whilst walking in these areas and follow signage. It is also best practice to wash your shoes and your dogs feet before visiting another site to prevent its spread.
If you have spotted any Japanese Knotweed on Peel Park and the Coppice LNR, then please contact Robert at robert.gabryszak@
On 17th March 2023, a year of planning and development finally came to fruition as the new path and bridge to Pleck Meadow were finally completed!
Rhododendron was introduced to Great Britain in the 1800's by Victorian botanists who were enchanted by it's gorgeous flowers. A member of the Ericaceae family, along with our native Heather and Bilberry, It was intentionally planted in the wild to provide cover for game species like Grouse and Pheasant. It can easily be identified year round via it's evergreen foliage with leaves that grow in sets of 3, creating a 'star-shaped' pattern. Since it's tiny seeds can be distributed by the wind, it has spread across the UK and has grown uncontested, displacing native species and ruining local biodiversity.
