AN INVASIVE weed that can cause serious problems for homeowners has been found growing in a Herefordshire lane.
Japanese knotweed, which is not native to Britain, is a fast-growing and strong clump-forming perennial weed, which grows from stout, deeply-penetrating rhizomes, or creeping underground stems.
Because these stems can be up to ten feet below the ground, the weed is very hard to control, and eradication requires determination as it is difficult and expensive to remove by hand or eradicate with chemicals, and it is an offence to cause Japanese knotweed to grow in the wild.
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But the weed has been found in Parish Lane in Little Birch, a meeting of Little Birch parish council heard earlier this year.
In an update to the council at a recent meeting, Councillor Toni Fagan said the issue with the weed is now being dealt with.
Japanese knotweed begins to grow in March or April after winter hibernation and can reach up to three metres in height by mid-summer.
It can push through cracks in concrete, driveways, patios, paths, drains and cavity walls, affecting property values and making homes difficult to sell,
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