A housing estate in Sturrocks in Basildon could see the value of its properties take a notable hit following the increasing growth of Japanese knotweed in the area.

Effects of Japanese Knotweed on House Price

Japanese knotweed has a dark and storied history in the property industry and is commonly vilified in the media as a fiendish and fearful infestation – and rightfully so.

The mere presence of the invasive plant can have a decidedly negative influence on house prices and, if left untreated, the knotty vine even has the potential to inhibit the structural integrity of the property.

As such, quick action is necessary and it's recommended that treatment begins as soon as a Japanese knotweed infestation is discovered. Sadly, such recommendation was not followed by Basildon Council…

Deaf Ears

Despite reporting the presence of Japanese knotweed to the local council for six months, residents of Basildon’s Vange estate have had to stand idly by and watch the growing problem escalate as their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

 “It’s disgusting that the council isn’t dealing with this”, said local resident Caroline Baxter. “We all pay our rates and shouldn’t have to deal with this going on here.”

Another inhabitant of the area, Barry Jones, also took aim at the council with his remarks:

“I think the council needs to get its act together and fix this issue. If they had done something about it then, it would have been gone by now.

“I will be so angry if the plant damages my garden and or home. If it’s left too long the whole estate will be covered in it.”

Delayed Reactions

Mr Jones also went on to highlight the safety hazards that knotweed brings to the area, noting that “people have suffered burns and blisters from the plant in the past”.

Commenting on the situation, a spokesperson for the local council had this response:

“We recently identified a case of Japanese Knotweed in Sturrocks and it was added to our contractors spraying list and has had its first spray.”

However, with a six-month head-start, have the council left it too late to nip this issue in the bud? One thing is for sure, they have definitely not made their job any easier.

Japanese Knotweed Treatment

As we touched on earlier, the sooner you address the problem, the quicker you will overcome it. As such, early diagnosis and early treatment is a vital part of the process and can be the difference between widespread problems and wholesale relief.

You notice a Japanese knotweed issue on your property, a neighbouring property or in the locale, it’s well worth getting it checked out. As seen in this instance, the council have a habit of dragging their feet and the issue is only likely to get a whole lot worse.

At Taylor Weed Control, we are fully equipped to tackle your knotweed nuisance once and for all and can quickly and efficiently banish your Eastern enemy from whence it came. All it takes is a phone call!

For more information on Japanese knotweed treatment from Taylor Weed Control, why not drop us a line? Call now on 029 2039 7554 to speak with one of our experts or get in touch online to request a FREE knotweed survey today.

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At Taylor Weed Control, we’ve seen it all when it comes to Japanese knotweed, from minor infestations to all-out garden takeovers.

However, if you think you’ve had it bad when it comes to Japanese knotweed on your property, trust us when we say it could be a lot worse!

For the organisers of the 2012 Olympics, a widespread Japanese knotweed infestation on the chosen site of the London Games threatened the viability of the event altogether.

How so? Join us as we revisit the time when Japanese knotweed won gold and threatened the UK’s biggest sporting event of the century.

An Olympic-Sized Problem

The crown jewel of the London 2012 Olympic Games was the aptly-named, Olympic Park – home to the awesome Olympic Stadium.

Purpose-built for the 2012 Olympics, the stunning venue provided the stage for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as multiple record-breaking performances and memorable moments throughout the event.

However, prior to the Olympics, the site itself was ravaged by Japanese knotweed. In fact, JKW covered a colossal four hectares (approximately 10 acres) of land on site and presented huge structural worries long-term.

As a result of the knotweed presence, a detailed and thorough removal plan was implemented to treat the issue, taking four years to complete and costing around £70 million of the £9.3 billion total remediation cost.

A Flowering Legacy

The investment in comprehensive removal of the knotweed problem has undoubtedly paid off and the venue has since become home to Premier League football club, West Ham United.

Additionally, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has also gone on to host a range of other global sporting events, such as numerous 2015 Rugby World Cup games, the 2017 World Athletics Championships and Major League Baseball fixtures in 2019.

Meanwhile, the venue itself has also hosted huge performing artists - including the likes of Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC and The Rolling Stones - none of which would have been possible, had Japanese knotweed remained at large.

Knotweed Removal Specialists

While your back garden is unlikely to play host to a global sporting event or a legendary music icon, ridding your land of Japanese knotweed can help protect your property and its future value.

At Taylor Weed Control, we specialise in knotweed removal and have built a reputation as one of the leading Japanese knotweed removal specialists in Wales and the West of England.

Our crack team of trained experts are fully equipped with the skills to disqualify your Japanese knotweed and leave it for dust, leaving you with a knotweed free garden that’s fit and healthy.

For more information on the professional weed killer services at Taylor Weed Control, why not get in touch today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or click the button below to get in touch online and request a FREE survey.

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Highly invasive and rapidly expansive, Japanese knotweed is a problematic plant to find on any property and every effort should be made to avoid the spread of this wide-reaching weed.

However, recent reports from the Wildlife Trust provide a stark reminder that preventing the spread of Japanese knotweed can oftentimes be out of our control, particularly when heavy rainfall rears its head.

In Deep Water

According to Wildlife Trust workers and volunteers, a number of previously unaffected UK nature reserves surveyed by the organisation have now been found to contain Japanese knotweed rhizomes on site.

The discovery comes after bouts of notable flooding in Wildlife Trust areas, raising concerns that flooding issues could be contributing to the spread of the notorious plant.

A Growing Issue

Rotherham’s Woodhouse Washlands nature reserve is a prime example of this and the latest notable landscape to fall victim to the Nipponese knot.

Previously knotweed free, the site was found to have knotweed present after the nearby River Rother burst its banks following a pronounced spell of flooding. As a result of the flood, Woodhouse Washlands succumbed to 1.5 metres of surface water.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs weighed in on the situation, noting that Japanese knotweed is notorious for spreading during times of flooding and that riverbanks should be monitored after bouts of prolonged heavy rainfall.

Professional Weed Removal

While prevention is often better than a cure, as seen in the example above, even the most stringent of precautionary measures can go awry if Mother Nature has her say in the matter.

Luckily, there are still a variety of ways to defend your property, even if knotweed has wormed its way on to your land and slipped by under the radar.

For an effective solution, professional knotweed removal is the best form of attack and a great way to ensure your problem is taken care of before it gets out of hand.

Knotweed Removal Specialists

With over 15 years’ industry experience in the weed removal trade, we’ve built a reputation as one of the UK’s foremost specialists in Japanese knotweed removal.

Our team of weed whacking warriors are ready, willing and more than able to untie your knotweed issues efficiently and effectively.

If you have discovered Japanese knotweed on your property, don’t stand idly by and let your unwanted guest move in on your patch. Call Taylor Weed Control now and nip it in the bud today!

For more detail on Japanese knotweed removal from Taylor Weed Control, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or click the button below to request a FREE Japanese knotweed survey.

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Japanese knotweed is commonly viewed as an annoying pest that can ravage your garden, cripple your house price and generally run roughshod over your property.

With such devastating effects, discovering Japanese knotweed on your property is enough to drive you to drink and have you reaching for the liquor cabinet in no time.

Luckily enough, doing so could actually help you combat your knotty invaders, as Japanese knotweed can actually be used to make a variety of adult beverages!

If you have JKW on your property, why not put your garden invader on ice today with these interesting drinks you can make with Japanese knotweed.

Japanese Knotweed Vodka

Due to its uncanny likeness, Russian vine is often wrongly mistaken for Japanese knotweed. Given the existing connection, why not take that international relationship one step further by using your JKW to make a tasty vodka?

Simply chop your knotweed shoots into inch-long chunks and place in a 1-litre jar with 75cl of vodka and 225g of sugar. Shake, seal and leave for approximately a month. Strain the mixture into a bottle using a muslin cloth and reseal for future sampling at your leisure. Nostrovia!

Japanese Knotweed Gin

Perhaps the easiest option in this blog, creating Japanese knotweed-infused gin is almost too easy NOT to try.

Japanese knotweed is often compared to rhubarb for its sharp, tart flavour. These attributes make it an excellent addition to gin that’s also complimented perfectly with traditional tonic.

To infuse your gin with the knotweed flavour, chop the JKW shoots into short 1-2cm chunks, slicing enough to fill a clip-top jar. Submerge completely with your unflavoured gin of choice and leave in a cool, dark place to infuse for at least a week before straining into a sealable bottle.

For the full, organic effect, push a chopstick through a freshly cut (and washed) shoot of knotweed to create a hollow straw and serve chilled with tonic and ice.

Japanese Knotweed Tea

If backyard booze isn’t your cup of tea, maybe this next entry will be…primarily as it’s just that – tea!

A staple of Asian culture, it should come as little surprise to hear that Japanese knotweed can indeed be used to make a hearty herbal brew that’s beneficial in numerous ways. Rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C, JKW is also a great source of zinc, potassium, phosphorous and manganese.

Known domestically as “Itadori” tea, it’s also rich in resveratrol, which has been known to combat bad cholesterol, lower blood pressure and protect brain function. Simply bring to the boil and simmer for 20 mins before adding sugar to taste. Can also be served chilled as a refreshing ice tea.

Other Japanese Knotweed Beverages

Proving just how versatile the demonised weed can be in terms of palatable delicacies, Japanese knotweed can even be made into beer. Imagine sitting down with one of those the next time the footy is on!

Even if knotweed beer doesn’t take your fancy, you're still not out of options in terms of liquid refreshments. With Japanese knotweed, you can turn vine into vino with Japanese knotweed wine; however, these recipes are admittedly a lot less simple and require a lot more time, effort and patience to master.

Japanese Knotweed Removal

While putting any on-site Japanese knotweed to good use is a great way to make the best of a bad situation, it’s highly unlikely that you will be able to drink JKW into submission.

If you want to rid your property of Japanese knotweed altogether, it may be worth considering professional removal services.

With over 15 years’ experience, Taylor Weed Control is fully equipped with the knowledge and expertise to get the job done once and for all.

For further details on our Japanese knotweed removal services, why not get in touch today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or click the button below to request a FREE weed removal survey.

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Japanese knotweed has long been the worst enemy to those looking to buy and sell property in the UK, with its mere presence being enough to stop a sale dead in its tracks.

However, that could all be set to change in the near future, thanks to a pending parliamentary investigation in the works.

Parliament has urged the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to commission a new and potentially ground-breaking study on international approaches to Japanese knotweed.

“Overly Cautious”?

The news comes following a thorough examination of the latest Japanese knotweed research by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee.

According to the examination conducted by the Committee, lenders overseas do not necessarily treat knotweed with the same degree of caution as they do domestically in the UK.

As a result of the study, the Committee voiced its concern that the UK approach was overly cautious and therefore unnecessarily damaging to homeowners and those looking to sell properties with Japanese knotweed.

Potential Impact

The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee has pitched the concept with the intent of using the results for further discussion and a subsequent more detailed report down the line.

Should the overall outcome confirm that the typical UK lender’s stance on Japanese knotweed is indeed “overly cautious”, it could potentially have a considerable impact on the property market as a result.

Suggestion Pending

Despite the prospective influence, such a study could have on the housing market and people’s attitudes to Japanese knotweed in general, it’s worth noting that the study has yet to be confirmed.

As of press time, the status of such an investigation is merely in the recommendation stage, with the Committee simply putting the concept forward to Defra as a suggestion.

As a result, ignoring Japanese knotweed and deeming it a non-issue as things stand is a not only a premature approach, it can also prove to be a short-sighted, risky and costly decision.

Knotweed Removal

Regardless of whether Japanese knotweed is ultimately deemed to be a serious issue or not, removal and treatment is undoubtedly the safest and smartest way to keep your property protected.

Horror stories of overrun gardens and infested landscapes are far from tall tales and we’ve seen first-hand just how devastating a Japanese knotweed infestation can be if left untreated.

At Taylor Weed Control, we have over 15 years of experience in the weed removal game and are fully equipped with the knowledge, expertise and tools of the trade necessary to rid your property of its unwanted garden guest, once and for all.

For more information on Japanese knotweed treatment or the variety of Japanese knotweed removal services at Taylor Weed Control, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or get in touch online for a FREE Japanese knotweed survey.

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