Rural Payments and Services

The aim of this item is to benefit water margins, woodland and grassland habitats by controlling Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed or Himalayan balsam and preventing their spread.

This will allow native plants to thrive and provide better habitat for wildlife.

The aim of primary treatment is to significantly weaken Japanese knotweed plants and prevent giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam from setting seed.

Any land which is infested with Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed or Himalayan balsam is eligible.

You must combine this item with the Control of Invasive Non-native Plant Species – Follow-up Monitoring and Treatmentitem.

You can check if this item is available on your holding here.

You must prepare an invasive plant management plan.

The plan must include a map and photographs showing the location and extent of the infestation and the areas to be treated, as well as the type and timing of the treatment you propose. The plan must also identify the locations of sensitive areas, where herbicide treatment would not be appropriate.

The plan must be supported by photographs showing the extent of each infested area to be treated.

The plan must also detail proposals for long-term monitoring and follow-up control to prevent re-invasion.

You must treat the infested area as detailed in your invasive plant management plan by one of the following methods:

• Japanese knotweed must be treated with herbicide
• giant hogweed must be treated with herbicide, unless tap-root cutting, mowing or grazing has been approved in your plan
• Himalayan balsam must be treated by either herbicide, strimming or hand pulling

Additionally:

• you must keep photographic evidence of the site before and after treatment as part of your claim
• you must treat any regrowth that develops during the growing season
• when using herbicide near water, you must use a glyphosate-based chemical that is approved for use
• if spraying within one metre of the top of the bank of a watercourse you, or your spray operator, must have Scottish Environment Protection Agency authorisation. You must retain a copy of the notification
• you must maintain a diary

You can claim:

• Japanese knotweed: £1.70 per square metre treated
• giant hogweed: £1.50 per square metre treated
• Himalayan balsam: £0.11 per square metre treated

The inspectors will check:

• the location and extent of the work
• you have treated the infested area as detailed in your invasive plant management plan to ensure there is no regrowth
• when using herbicide near water, you have used a glyphosate-based chemical that is approved for use and you, or your spray operator, have Scottish Environment Protection Agency authorisation
• you have maintained a diary which includes the dates treatment was undertaken
• you have kept photographic evidence of the sites before and after treatment as part of your claim