The Island is home to many rare and unusual species, but also a few unwelcome visitors. Perhaps the most notorious of these is the dreaded Japanese Knotweed. This spectacular ornamental plant was first planted by the Victorians, and soon escaped into the wild where it grew rampantly. With no natural predators the attractive foliage spread across large parts of the West Country and Wales, and is found in patches over much of England, including the Isle of Wight.

If it were simply an attractive escapee there would be little harm ? but this pretty plant hides a horrible secret. As well as smothering native plants and starving native animals of food, the invader can grow two metres every year, and is strong enough to push its way through concrete, tarmac or even come up inside houses.

The Council is active in controlling knotweed on its own land ? this year the Countryside Section has organised over ?20,000 of knotweed control work to conserve wildlife and keep the weed from damaging property.

Digging out the plant or cutting almost always makes the problem worse, as even the tiniest fragment can regenerate a whole plant in less than a year. Sadly, poisoning is the only effective method at present, although as a last resort, Japanese Knotweed is an edible plant, capable of being boiled and eaten like asparagus and is an excellent source of vitamin C. Eaten in large quantities Knotweed can also act as a gentle laxative! We have no recipes, but the Countryside Section can offer landowners advice on more conventional knotweed control methods, although there is no special funding available.