Invasive species are a highly emotive issue with many organisations and the media offering differing and divisive opinions about their invasiveness and their control.
It is estimated that Japanese Knotweed costs the UK over £1.56 billion per year, and this is just one of many non-native invasive plants. This course provides an introduction to the problems associated with non-native invasive species and how to go about accurately identifying and recording them.
Through a series of discussions, lectures and identification of specimens we will explore some of these issues and consider whether all species warrant the same treatment. By the end of the course participants should be able to make an appraisal of what constitutes an invasive plant, be able to accurately identify it and assess its impact on the environment.
An attempt will be made to show the course participant as many individual Schedule 9 non-native invasive species as possible, with the exception of the numerous Cotoneaster species. Use will be made of living material, herbarium material and photographs. Participants may wish bring along any specimens they think may be of interest.