Japanese Knotweed - Embarrassing Lack of Research Encouraging Rampant Spread of No.1 Alien Weed

LONDON, April 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

In London this month, National trade body The Property Care Association (PCA) and other organisations involved in the Japanese Knotweed control industry will be sharing news on recent work in research, smart phone apps and best practice guidance for surveying and controlling this problematic plant.

The Phlorum 'Specialist Seminar - Japanese Knotweed' is on Tuesday, April 23^rd, at The Institute of Physics.

At the event, Steve Hodgson, PCA Chief Executive, will be outlining details on the forthcoming 'Code of Practice for the Management of Japanese Knotweed,' drawn up by the PCA in close collaboration with Phlorum and other leaders in the invasive weed control industry.

Other guest speakers at the Phlorum Specialist Seminar include Philip Santo, a RICS Fellow and former Chair of the RICS initiative on Japanese Knotweed and Residential Property, who will talk about the issues of Japanese Knotweed for surveyors and the recent RICS guidance that supports them.

Dr Paul Beckett, a Director of Phlorum, will also provide a summary of Japanese Knotweed problems and best practice solutions, before David Kilbey, of Bristol University, introduces PlantTracker, an innovative smart phone application that uses crowd-sourced data to record locations of invasive weeds in a national database.

Professor Tony Moore and Julia Shearman, specialists in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the University of Sussex, will also discuss how advances in biochemistry are helping us to understand Japanese Knotweed and to potentially develop novel methods to control it.

Dr Paul Beckett, a Director of Phlorum, said:

"There is currently an embarrassing lack of proper science to help us understand how Japanese Knotweed works and hence how we might be able to effectively deal with it. This seminar is a first step to encourage collaboration in research and to promote better understanding of best practice across the Knotweed control industry."

Steve Hodgson, Chief Executive Officer of the PCA, said:

"Publication of the code sets a new standard for an industry where stories of poor practice abound."

Details on booking a place to attend the Seminar can be found at Eventbrite.

Further information on Phlorum can be found on their website.

If you require further information please contact:

Dr Paul Beckett +44(0)1273307167 or email: paul.beckett@phlorum.com