Newbury a Japanese knotweed hotspot reveals Envioret heatmap

An interactive online heatmap has revealed the hotspots of an invasive plant across the country.

Newbury has been identified by invasive plant specialist Enviornet as a Japanese knotweed hotspot, with around 15 cases within a 4km radius of the town.

Around four cases have been identified within 4km between Thatcham and Bucklebury.

Just outside of West Berkshire, cases are higher, with 71 occurrences of growing knotweed within 4km of Reading.

The interactive heatmap allows users to enter a postcode and find the number of cases affecting their area.

The plant changes appearance with the seasons and can be hard to identify at times but is easiest to spot during the spring and summer months.

The key traits of Japanese knotweed are:

• Red shoots emerge in spring that look like asparagus.
• Leaves which are shield or shovel-shaped.
• Stems that resemble bamboo canes with purple speckles.
• Small, cream-coloured flowers developing towards the end of summer.

The plant specialist has offered advice to those who come across the invasive perennial weed, which can cause severe damage to residential and commercial property.

More information on how to spot this plant as well as how to deal with a potential infestation can be found on the Enviornet website.

Information can also be found on other similar invasive plants.