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A study, which looked at National Biodiversity Network figures from 49 local authorities in Britain, found that the invasive weed has spread like wildfire across the country. The troublesome
plant species was originally imported into the UK from Japan back in the 19th century. It was originally thought that the plant would stabilise and add natural beauty to railway
embankments. Shockingly, 12 percent of the 907 UK homeowners surveyed by YouGov had never heard of the invasive weed. Nearly half (47 percent) also claimed they did not know what the plant
looked like from a line-up of plant images. Dean Wilson from Horticulture.co.uk said if you are looking to buy a property, you need to instruct a surveyor to check for Japanese Knotweed. He
said: “When instructing a surveyor for your new home purchase, always ask them to look for Japanese Knotweed and other invasive plants.” WHICH REGIONS HAVE THE MOST CONFIRMED CASES OF
JAPANESE KNOTWEED IN THE UK? Over the last five years, South Yorkshire has seen the most confirmed live cases with a more than 77 percent increase in the past five years. South Yorkshire was
followed by Hampshire, West Sussex, Kent and Powys. In the last five years, the national average of confirmed cases has soared to 29,536, a 27.91 percent increase. UK REGIONS WITH THE MOST
GROWTH IN LIVE CASES OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS: County: South Yorkshire Total confirmed live cases: 1,111 Five-year change: +77.19 percent County: Hampshire Total confirmed live cases: 123
Five-year change: +73.24 percent County: West Sussex Total confirmed live cases: 155 Five-year change: +72.22 percent County: Kent Total confirmed live cases: 217 Five-year change: +64.39
percent County: Powys Total confirmed live cases: 923 Five-year change: +61.93 percent County: North Yorkshire Total confirmed live cases: 215 Five-year change: +58.09 percent County:
Cardiff Total confirmed live cases: 280 Five-year change: +53.01 percent County: West Yorkshire Total confirmed live cases: 1,762 Five-year change: +52.82 percent County: Surrey Total
confirmed live cases: 200 Five-year change: +49.25 percent County: Shropshire Total confirmed live cases: 146 Five-year change: +47.47 percent