NEW consumer research conducted by Environet UK and YouGov shows that public concern around Japanese knotweed in the South West has reached 82%.

The research indicated that this was because of a growing number of homeowners finding the plant to be a problem when buying and selling property.

The study found that around 2% of homes in the region are affected by the weed, either directly or indirectly through adjoining property. In Newton Abbot, there are currently eight known active cases of Japanese knotweed, while in Teignbridge there are almost 100.

Brought to the UK in the 19th century as an exotic addition to people’s gardens, knotweed soon took over as one of the most dominant invasive species in British ecological history.

The plant, which spreads via a powerful root system, can cause damage to driveways, patios, drains and walls and cause legal disputes between neighbours when it damages property. With no clear means to eradicate the weed, it’s likely that the concerns raised in the survey will only grow.