Invasive species

The fact sheets below give you basic details about key invasive species. You'll find out how to spot them, what their impact is, and what to do next. You'll also find links to further information where appropriate.

Animals and plants that have been introduced to a place where they do not naturally occur are known as non-native species. Many of these live happily in the UK without causing a problem but a few become what's called "invasive". These upset the balance of the ecosystem as they are bigger, faster growing or more agressive than the native species and also have no natural predators to control numbers. The native species are often unable to compete and fairly quickly the outsiders take over.

In 2003 we published Guidance for the control of invasive weeds in or near fresh water. This looks at 6 non-native, invasive weeds found in the UK, what they look like and how to deal with them, including Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed.