With the number of rivers, railway lines and roads that crisscross East Lothian there is ideal opportunity for the spread of invasive weeds such as Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed.
Both of these plants were introduced to this country by Victorian gardeners as ornamental plants and, while they make unusual specimens in a garden, if left to their own devises, will rapidly spread, taking over large areas of land in a very short time.
Giant Hogweed
Giant Hogweed presents a danger to the public as it produces a sap that, if it comes into contact with the skin in sunny conditions, will cause horrific blistering.
Hogweed spreads rapidly each plant produces thousands of seeds, and only one plant needs to seed next to a river in order for it to spread for miles around.
Hogweed should be killed off before it flowers to prevent the seeds from forming.
Japanese Knotweed
While not presenting any direct danger to the public, Japanese Knotweed (which spreads by tiny pieces of root and sections of stem) grows to such a density that it prevents any other plants from growing.
It also destroys the structure of the soil, causing embankments and riverbanks to become unstable. It can even push up through tarmac and concrete, damaging pavements and dislodging slabs.
Soil contaminated with either plant should not be moved as this will encourage spread of the plant.
Both species are covered by legislation that either makes it an offence to plant or encourage plants to grow in the wild. However there is no legislation at present that places an obligation on private landowners to control existing populations of invasive weeds.
If you note any of these species in the county that don’t appear on our location list, or require information on how to control plants on your land, please contact landscape and countryside providing detailed information on the location and ownership details if known.