UK Trade Body Offers Japanese Knotweed Training Programme

Published on 16-09-2013 by Dr Paul Beckett

Last updated 07-12-2021

Property Care Association (PCA), a UK trade association, has started a new training project that focuses on the causes and treatment of Japanese knotweed, the PCA said on its website. The Association represents UK weed control professionals and has developed a modular, two-day training programme named “The Control and Eradication of Japanese Knotweed.” The new course focuses on the identification and control of the plant, but will also provide advice about other invasive weeds that professionals need to be aware of. The programme also includes details of insurance backed guarantees, which members of the association can provide for their work. The first part of the two day training course, “The Management of Invasive Plant Species”, will deal with basic information about Japanese knotweed and the specific techniques that should be employed in order to safely and efficiently manage invasive species, such as waste management and bio-security. On the second day of the course, a module called “Identification and Control Options for Invasive Plants: Japanese Knotweed” will include detailed examination of the ecology of the weed and its identification, impact and control. This part of the course will also provide general information about other plant species that are considered invasive. In 2012, the PCA created an Invasive Weed Control Group (WCG) in order to help people find weed treatment professionals who offer standardisation, assurance and certainty in dealing with these problematic plants. The association has been working with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and weed control firms to develop WCG. In early 2013, PCA also devised a national code of practice, which defines the best practices in Japanese knotweed eradication and control.