• Text Only

23 October 2008

• Help
• Contact us
• Our views
• About us
• Home

I'm looking for... ---------------- Air Quality Conservation Fish Flood Land Quality Navigation Recreation Waste Water Quality Water Resources ---------------- Anglian Region Environment Agency Wales Midlands Region North East Region North West Region South West Region Southern Region Thames Region ---------------- Business Fun and Games Jobs Science and Research Your Environment ---------------- NetRegs

Secondary navigation: links to other relevant sections

• Conservation
• How our work helps biodiversity
• Restoring England's wetlands
• Cleaner coasts healthier seas
• Invasive non-native species
• Otters
• Habitats Directive
• How you can help
• Find out more

See also...

• Crayfish
• Non native species - more info
• Plantlife - invasive plants
• Wikipedia - invasive species

This page has the following theme:
Wildlife

We are not responsible for the content of other web sites.

Invasive non-native species

Animals and plants that have been introduced to a place where they do not naturally occur are known as non-native species. Many of these live happily in the UK without causing a problem but a few become what's called "invasive". These upset the balance of the ecosystem as they are bigger, faster growing or more aggressive than the native species and also have no natural predators to control numbers. The native species are often unable to compete and fairly quickly the outsiders take over.

In 2003 we published Guidance for the control of invasive weeds in or near fresh water. This looks at 6 non-native, invasive weeds found in the UK, what they look like and how to deal with them, including Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed (see below for download).

• Advice on managing Japanese Knotweed
  Plants and animals that have been introduced to a place where they aren't naturally found are known as non-native species. Many of these are also classed as invasive as they out-compete the native species.

For a quick reference we have produced some factsheets on the more common invasive species.

• Giant Hogweed (MS Word, 28KB, 10 secs)
  Facts and figures on giant hogweed
• Himalayan Balsam (MS Word, 26KB, 10 secs)
  Facts and figures on Himalayan balsam
• Australian Swamp Stonecrop (MS Word, 26KB, 10 secs)
  Facts and figures on Australian swamp stonecrop
• Parrot's Feather (MS Word, 22KB, 10 secs)
  Facts and figures on parrot's feather
• Floating Pennywort (MS Word, 26KB, 10 secs)
  Facts and figures on floating pennywort.
• American Mink (MS Word, 26KB, 10 secs)
  Facts and figures on American mink

Anglian | Midlands | North East | North West | South West | Southern | Thames | Wales

©The Environment Agency 2008
Privacy Policy

Author: Laura Edwards | enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk