Over the past couple of months, the Chevron Green Consultancy team have been working on Invasive, Non-native species surveys (INNS) along main roads across the whole of the East of England.
These surveys are driven surveys, meaning there is a driver for each surveyor; when the surveyor spots Ragwort, Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed or Himalayan Balsam, the driver stops, and the team get out to log the location and size on our client's digital system.
Our client uses the information to prioritise and focus on areas that need attention to control the species. Any Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed found will be put onto a treatment program, whereas species like ragwort will only be dealt with if it's growing next to grazing fields.
Knowing where all noted locations are helps to keep track of the spread, with monitoring happening regularly. Once completed at the end of August, with an estimated total of 37 days on-site, the team will have surveyed just shy of 900km of verge.
