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BobF posted on October 03, 2011 15:16 
The first of the autumn talks organised by GAF on Thursday 29th Sept went well. It was discussing Japanese Knotweed, there was presentations from from Derek Wells (Horticultural officer GCC) and Fiona Stewart of SEPA. Below are some notes from Judy Wilkinson and Fiona Stewart from the event. This link is the powerpoint presentation that was also shown
We had a very informative evening about Japanese Knotweed with presentations from Derek Wells (Horticultural officer GCC) and Fiona Stewart . Representatives from six allotment sites attended and there were apologies from three other sites which are affected as well
There was grave concern expressed about the occurrence of Japanese knotweed on allotment sites and a good discussion on what can be done to control if not eradicate it.
It was suggested that all plot-holders should be alerted to the gravity of this weed and a poster will produced explaining to all the plot-holders on affected sites the need for vigilance, information about the spraying programme for Council sites and the support that is available.
SNH has a 'Sharing Good Practice' Event on Thursday 13th October www.snh.gov.uk/policy-and-guidance/sharing-good-practice/events/
If anyone is interested and willing to attend please let me know.
Judy Wilkinson
Secretary GAF
SEPA's remit, clarification of legislative responsibilities, sources of useful information and associated guidance regarding invasive species including Japanese knotweed. II anyone has any questions that you feel are not answered by the information provided below, please contact SEPA and the local Glasgow and Dunbartonshire team will strive to answer them.
Japanese knotweed guidance
A good first port of call for any non-native species information is the DEFRA-hosted Non-Native Species Secretariat website at www.nonnativespecies.org - there is lots of Japanese knotweed information that can be found either by doing a name search from the homepage or linking directly to https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/factsheet/factsheet.cfm?speciesId=1495
There is comprehensive guidance on knotweed handling & management, legislative responsibilities and waste issues specific to Scotland on the Business Gateway - the Japanese knotweed information starts fully at http://www.bgateway.com/bdotg/action/layer?r.s=tl&site=202&topicId=1086726920
There is a lot of activity going on across Scotland through the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS) biosecurity project, so there may possibly be areas where allotment sites could tie in with existing projects. The RAFTS biosecurity website has links to the regional biosecurity plans and contacts http://www.invasivespeciesscotland.org.uk/biosecurity_programme/rafts_biosecurity_programme.asp
There following is a link to SEPA's website which summarises SEPA's remit in relation to invasive species and provides links to useful information: http://www.sepa.org.uk/science_and_research/what_we_do/biodiversity/invasive_non-native_species.aspx
In addition it may be of use to be aware of the SEPA Water Environment Restoration Fund at http://www.sepa.org.uk/water/restoration_fund.aspx which may possibly be applicable if an allotment site is near water.
Additional information regarding Japanese knotweed civil issues
The environmental legislation cannot force someone to do anything about Japanese Knotweed on their land, unless it spreads 'into the wild' - if it spreads onto a neighbours land and causes a nuisance, then advice from a solicitor on the potential use of civil proceedings would be the next course of action if it's not possible to come to an amicable agreement with the neighbouring land owner.
The recently passed Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 will amend the non-native species sections of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, removing the lists of species in the 1981 Act and instead introducing a presumption against the release of any non-native species.
It will give certain organisations responsibilities with regard to coordinating responses to invasive non native species; these are detailed in a (currently draft) Code of Practice on Non-Native and Invasive Non-Native Species, which will accompany the 2011 Act. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is identified as the overall lead coordinating body, with specific responsibility for terrestrial habitats, SEPA will cover standing and running freshwater habitats, and Forestry Commission Scotland and Marine Scotland cover woodland and marine habitats, respectively.
The relevant sections of the 2011 Act are due to commence later this autumn. If it does come into force as currently presented, in the case of Japanese Knotweed SEPA will continue to have a role in relation to consulting on the use of herbicides in or near watercourses, and in waste regulation for material arising from any management of the plant, but the lead organisation will be SNH. Because the relevant section of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 is designed to protect the natural environment, neither SNH or SEPA will be in a position to act in a situation where the problem is one of a dispute over Japanese Knotweed between neighbours.
Hopefully the section above also clarifies the responsibilities that will come in with the new Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011, and clarifies that the new legislation is not yet in force. Until the relevant sections of the 2011 Act commence, hopefully later this autumn, the primary legislation remains the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, under which it is an offence to:
release or allow to escape into the wild any animal not ordinarily resident in or a regular visitor to Great Britain in a wild state, or those included in schedule 9 of the WCA 1981
plant, or otherwise cause to grow in the wild any plant included in schedule 9 of the WCA 1981.
Eileen Raeside
Environment Protection Officer
Glasgow and Dunbartonshire Team
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