Conservation FAQs
Click a question to reveal the answer.
Q: What do I do if I find an injured animal?
Q: What do I do if I find an abandoned young animal?
Q: Is it ok to feed the ducks and geese on the lakes?
Q: I have Japanese knotweed growing in my garden. How do I deal with it?
The most effective way of treating it is with a glyphosate-based herbicide, which is available from most garden centres. Control can be achieved if it is cut or sprayed in early summer, then sprayed again in late summer, just before the winter dieback. It may take a few years to completely kill the entire plant, as this relies on the death of the extensive rhizome (horizontal stem) system underground.
It is not recommend that you dig, compost, cut or burn to control the plant as there is the potential that remaining fragments could be spread about either by machinery or people, or the rhizomes may not be effectively killed. Spraying and therefore killing in situ is deemed to be the best method as there is no risk of spreading anything anywhere!
Disposal
Japanese Knotweed is one of two harmful plant species listed in the Wildlife and Countryside Act (as amended) 1981 and it is illegal to knowingly cause the spread of it. You therefore have to dispose of Japanese Knotweed waste and any waste or spoil that could contain fragments of it at certified contaminated landfill sites as they have a license to deal with it.
Q: Why do crows attack people during spring?
Q: How do I stop foxes entering my garden?
Q: I haven't seen a hedgehog in a long time. What's happened to them?
Q: I often see swans swimming with a foot up on its back. Should I be concerned?
Q: My tree is protected - does this mean I can't do anything to it?
Q: My neighbour's tree is too big - what can I do?
Q: How do I get a council-owned tree pruned?
Q: What can I do if a tree infringes my "right to light"?
Q: What should I do if I see or suspect that a wildlife crime is taking place?
