Bristol is one of the ‘worst’ cities in the UK for Japanese knuckles

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Bristol has been named the region’s hotspot for the UK’s most aggressive and destructive plan, the Japanese knot. According to new YouGov research commissioned by Environet, Bristol has been plagued by 477 infestations within a 4km radius.

The survey of more than 2,000 British adults also found that about 5 per cent of houses in the Southwest they are affected by the knuckle, either directly or indirectly (ie, neighbors of an affected property).

Bristol is by far the worst hotspot in the region and one of the worst in the UK, with 477 infestations within a 4km radius, followed by Bath (78 infestations within a 4km radius), Camborne in Cornwall ( 54) and Plymouth (40). , according to Environet’s live Japanese knuckle heat map, Exposed.

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Japanese knuckle can damage driveways, patios, drains and, in rare cases, the fabric of our homes and is described by the Environment Agency as “arguably the UK’s most aggressive, destructive and invasive plant”. It is not illegal to have knuckles growing on one property, but homeowners who allow it to spread to adjoining properties could be the subject of an expensive legal claim from their neighbor.

Sellers have a duty to declare if their property is affected by the knuckle when they complete the standard TA6 Property Information Form, which asks a direct question about the plant. They must answer honestly and if they don’t declare the knuckle found later, even if the wrong answer was given innocently, they could be forced to compensate the buyer not only for treatment costs and legal fees, but also for the decrease of the property value resulting from the so-called “knuckle stigma”.

More than half (58%) of respondents in the Southwest said they would consider taking legal action against a seller who failed to alert them to knuckles in a property that was discovered after they moved.

Nic Seal, founder and managing director of Environet, said: “Anyone selling property has a duty to either obtain a survey of the walnut walnut or ensure they are familiar with the appearance of the plant and therefore can affirm with confidence if you have it or not.

“Knotweed is growing rapidly at this time of year, at a rate of up to 10cm per day, reaching its maximum height of 2-2.5m in late May. Keep an eye out for the distinctive bright green, shield-shaped leaves and purple-speckled canes.

“Knotweed is more of an iceberg, with most of the plant hidden underground in its vast rhizome system, so what you can see growing is usually not a true reflection of the size of the problem.”

As long as the knotweed is professionally treated with an insurance-backed collateral, mortgage lenders will make loans in most cases and property transactions can proceed. Buyers and sellers unsure if a property is affected can order a JustCheck™ survey whereby expert Japanese knuckle-bones surveyors will check the property and its immediate surroundings for any signs of the invasive plant.

How to identify the Japanese knuckle

1. In April/May, red or purple asparagus-like shoots sprout from the ground and grow rapidly, forming hard culms

2. As the canes grow, the heart-shaped leaves gradually unfurl and turn green

3. The plant grows at an incredible rate of around 10 cm per day from May to July, when it is fully grown and can reach three meters in height.

4. Knotweed blooms in late summer when covered in small, creamy-white flowers

5. In late autumn the leaves fall and the canes turn brown and die, although they remain standing

To view Japanese knuckle infestations in your area or to report a sighting, visit environetuk.com/exposed-japanese-knotweed-heat-map-information.

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