A couple who invested in a stunning five-bedroom Victorian residence had to pause their renovation project upon uncovering a concealed Japanese knotweed infestation, resulting in an additional expense of £15,000. Nathan Hannaway and his partner acquired the property in a prosperous neighborhood for £430,000, only to later detect five shoots of the invasive weed in the backyard.
Japanese knotweed, an invasive and rapidly proliferating plant, dominates gardens and poses significant challenges for removal as it stifles other vegetation, obstructs light, damages structures like fences and brickwork, and can go unnoticed until it becomes a severe issue. This insidious plant spreads through underground root systems, causing havoc on property values, house sales, and gardens, with certain regions experiencing more severe infestations than others.
To eradicate the Japanese knotweed infestation, Nathan and his partner had to allocate £15,000. Their move from a two-bedroom residence in Bury, Greater Manchester, to their new home in Whitehall, near Blackburn, Lancashire, was intended to enhance their living space and revamp the overgrown garden. However, their renovation plans were derailed by the unexpected discovery of the weed shortly after moving in.
Nathan, a 33-year-old wind-turbine testing company owner, was initially unfamiliar with Japanese knotweed but soon recognized its distinctive red-speckled stems after researching and observing it along nearby riverbanks. A survey conducted by Environet revealed multiple areas of knotweed growth on their property.
Whitehall in Darwen, Lancashire, where Nathan resides, has been identified as the UK’s most affected area by Japanese knotweed, with 92 documented cases in postcode BB3 2. Blackburn with Darwen, named the most impacted borough in the UK with 2,135 cases, or 40 per square mile, also encompasses this neighborhood.
Nathan’s neighbor, Brian Hartley, 84, mentioned witnessing knotweed proliferation in his garden over his 30-year residency, emphasizing the plant’s rapid spread if not consistently managed. In nearby Blackburn Old Cemetery, precautions have been taken to prevent the inadvertent dispersal of knotweed fragments by lawnmowers.
Volunteers at the cemetery employ glyphosate weedkiller to tackle the dense underground roots of mature knotweed stems, as the plant can grow up to 10ft tall and expand rapidly, particularly during the summer months. Maurice Ffelan, 82, from the Friends of Blackburn Old Cemetery, highlighted the challenges of eradicating this persistent plant and the risks associated with its unintentional spread.
Propertymark advises that disclosing Japanese knotweed presence is crucial when selling a property, as it can impact prices, prolong transactions, and even lead to sales falling through. The prevalence of knotweed infestations varies across different regions, with Blackburn with Darwen topping the list with 2,135 cases and 40.36 per square mile. Other areas with notable infestation rates include Bristol, Bolton, Brent, St Helens, Cardiff, Newport, Haringey, Lambeth, and Nottingham.
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