Clare County Council is looking for the public’s help in stopping the spread of a destructive plant.
Japanese Knotweed can kill other plants and impact on the structure of roads, buildings and car parks.
The local authority wants people to record all sightings of the species so it can determine the extent of the problem across the county.
A series of workshops are also taking place in Ennis, Enistymon, Scarriff, Shannon, Kilrush and Killaloe.
Clare County Council is seeking the public’s assistance in curbing the spread of Japanese knotweed, an invasive species that can negatively impact native plants as well as seriously undermine the structural integrity of roads, buildings and car parks.
The Local Authority is asking the public to record all sightings of invasive species wherever they occur in order to assist in determining the extent of infestation across the county.
Since it was introduced as an ornamental plant from Japan in the 19th Century, Japanese knotweed has spread across the island of Ireland, particularly along watercourses, transport routes and waste grounds where its movement is unrestricted.
Clare County Council says that recording the extent of infestation of the invasive species throughout the county is critical to tackling the problem and undertaking appropriate eradication programmes.
All sightings of invasive species should be reported to the National Biodiversity Data Centre at http://records.biodiversityireland.ie/record/invasives, telephone 051306240, email [email protected] and on the National Biodiversity Data Centre or EPA Catchments smartphone apps.
