Entire List of Invasive Species in the UK
Invasive species can have a negative impact on native ecosystems and infrastructure, making them a significant issue when it comes to staging a planning project. Whether there’s evidence of invasive species on a site or even a small chance they could be, an invasive species survey will be needed before a developer or planner can realistically move forward and secure planning permission.
Also known as an invasive non-native species and invasive alien species, invasive species are organisms outside of their natural range that have the ability to create widespread environmental and economic damage.
Although they can include animals like the American mink (Neogale vision), Asian hornet (Vespa velutina), Chinese mystery snail (Cipangopaludina chinensis), grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), muntjac deer (Muntiacus), New Zealand flatworm (Arthurdendyus triangulatus), North American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) and ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), the term usually focuses more on invasive non-native plants, such as Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed.
While certain species are known as being more common than others across Great Britain, the full catalogue of listed invasive species is actually far larger. If you’d like more of an idea of the alien plants named by the UK government as being a cause for concern, see our extensive invasive species list below:
Complete UK Invasive Plant Species List
Widely Spread
- American Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanus)
- Chilean Rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria)
- Cotoneaster (Five Species – C. bullatus, C. horizontalis, C. integrifolius, C. microphyllus, C. simonsii)
- Curly Waterweed (Lagarosiphon major)
- False-Acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia)
- False Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta)
- Few-Flowered Leek (Allium paradoxum)
- Floating Pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides)
- Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
- Giant Knotweed (Fallopia sachalinensis)
- Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens gladulifera)
- Hottentot Fig (Carpobrotus edulis)
- Hybrid Knotweed (Fallopia x bohemica)
- Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica or Reynoutria japonica)
- Montbretia (Crocosmia x Crocosmiiflora)
- Nuttall’s Waterweed (Elodea nuttallii)
- Parrot’s Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
- Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum)
- Three-cornered Garlic (Allium triquetrum)
- Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
- Water Fern (Azolla filiculoides)
- Yellow Archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. argentatum)
Not Widely Spread
- Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)
- Asiatic Tearthumb (Persicaria perfoliata)
- Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum gradiflorum)
- Broadleaf Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum)
- Broomsedge Bluestem (Andropogon virginicus)
- Chinese Bushclover (Lespedeza cuneata)
- Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifera)
- Common Milkweed (Asclepia syriaca)
- Crimson Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum)
- Eastern Baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia)
- Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana)
- Floating Primrose-Willow (Ludwigia peploides)
- Golden Wreath Wattle (Acacia saligna)
- Japanese Hop (Humulus scandens)
- Japanese Rose (Rosa rugosa)
- Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)
- Kudzu Vine (Pueraria juliflora)
- Perfoliate Alexanders (Smyrnium perfoliatum)
- Perennial Veldt Grass (Ehrharta calycina)
- Persian Hogweed (Heracleum persicum)
- Purple Dewplant (Disphyma crassifolium)
- Purple Pampas Grass (Cortaderia jubata)
- Salvinia Moss (Salvinia molesta)
- Senegal Tea Plant (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides)
- Sosnowsky’s Hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi)
- Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
- Vine-Like Fern (Lygodium japonicum)
- Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
- Water-Primrose (Ludwigia gradiflora)
- Whitetop Weed (Pathenium hysterophorus)
Resolutions to Invasive Species Issues
A multi-layered approach is needed to resolve any issues caused by invasive species.
From the correct identification of a certain species to the responsibilities of corresponding organisations and the threat of legal enforcement, Arbtech explains the solutions used to control and manage the environmental threat from alien plants.
Identifying Invasive Species
With accurate invasive species identification, a control plan can be created that is effective for the behaviours and limitations of the plant in question.
Each non-native plant species has tell-tale signs, such as aquatic plants forming dense mats that slow the water flow in rivers and Japanese knotweed producing distinctive reddish-purple stems in spring.
Our ecological consultants are capable of identifying invasive species in a way that goes beyond a standard visual check. During a preliminary type of ecological survey, one of our team will notice the subtle differences between regulated invasive species and non-problematic native plants, saving you time and money.
Regulators Limiting Invasive Species Problems
Several different organisations work together to limit the spread of harmful organisms.
The Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) coordinates the efforts across the UK, and local authorities often enforce local management plans and place restrictions on land use whenever invasive plants are present.
Certain species are also placed on the Union Concern List – an official EU index that bans the keeping, sale and transport across the entire bloc.
Alternatively, any species that has been removed from a regulated list is considered ‘de-listed’, but it is rare for this to happen.
Laws on Invasive Species
The control of invasive species is a legal requirement and not an optional ecological choice.
Legislation like Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it a criminal offence to plant or otherwise cause listed alien plants to grow in the wild.
On top of this, the handling and disposal of materials contaminated with listed species is also highly regulated. Instead, any such materials must be treated as controlled waste and disposed of, but only by licensed carriers and at approved sites.
Any form of invasive species legislation is designed to demonstrate the serious nature of the special concern for our environment.
Support to Deal with Invasive Species in Planning
In any development, coming across an invasive non-native species can prevent you from being able to get planning permission, or at least, it will without the help of our team.
Arbtech focuses specifically on the planning side of things, providing targeted invasive species surveys for the plant you’re dealing with, or an earlier ecological survey like a preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA) if you need more of an overview of potential natural features on your site.
After an assessment has been completed, we can start to map the problem and create a viable management plan that your local planning authority will accept.
Get an Invasive Species Survey Quote
When dealing with invasive non-native plants, you need quick and reliable advice.
Our team of ecological consultants are experts in the regional distribution of such species, as well as the circumstances of the local area, likely animal and plant habitats, and the requirements of the local council.
Contact us today for a free quote, and with information directly from you, we can work out if you need an ecology survey, invasive species survey or something else. You can do this and start the process of addressing invasive non-native plants by emailing, calling or filling out a form on our website.
