In this section you will find the following information:
Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is an invasive weed that spreads rapidly. In winter the plant dies back to ground level but by early summer the bamboo-like stems emerge from rhizomes (rootstalks) deep underground to shoot to over 7ft, easily suppressing all other plant growth.
Japanese knotweed can sprout from very small sections of rhizomes, so digging out or around the immediate area will potentially cause the weed to spread.
Under the provisions made within Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to cause Japanese knotweed to grow in the wild.
If found on Wychavon District Council managed land please report to 01386 565199. If found on private land please report to The Environment Agency: 0800 807060.
Please see further guidance on control and other invasive weeds on GOV.UK
Other invasive weeds
Giant Hogweed
Giant Hogweed is an invasive plant species and can be found throughout much of the UK, especially colonising riverbanks where its seeds are transported by the water.
Please do not touch the plant. The sap of giant hogweed can cause burns.
If the sap gets onto your skin, then you are exposed to sun, your skin can blister badly, and blistering can recur over months and even years. This is known as phytotoxicity.
Avoid brushing through patches of giant hogweed and exposing yourself to plants which have been cut which might cause you to get sap on your skin.
How to identify?
Stems: Green with purple blotches and stiff, white hairs. Stems are hollow with ridges.
Leaves: Up to 1.5m wide and 3m long and is deeply divided into smaller leaflets. The leaves have irregular and very sharp or jagged edges. The underside of the leaf is hairy.
Flowers: Appear in June and July and are small, white and are clustered on umbrella-like heads known as umbels that can reach a diameter of 60cm.
Gritting
A winter service is provided by Worcestershire County Council, whereby they reduce the effects of snow and ice on the roads with the treatment of salt. Visit the Gritting, Ice and Snow page on the Worcestershire County Council website, for more information.
Weed spraying and verge maintenance
We start weed spraying in April and finish in September, and have a small dedicated team who do all the residential areas throughout Wychavon, all the towns and nearly 100 villages.
The grass on verges (land between road and pavement) in the towns of Evesham, Droitwich and Pershore are cut by us, as we act as an agent for Worcestershire County Council Highways. If you have any queries on grass cutting in these areas please call our Client Services team 01386 565018.
All trees on verges and verges in rural areas are cut by the County Council. If you have any queries on rural grass or trees on any verge you should contact the Worcestershire County Council Highways on 01905 765765.
