2018 International Invasive Weed Conference Review

‘Identification, Assessment and Response’

The Slate, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7SH

The fourth annual PCA Invasive Weed Control Group conference took place at The Slate, University of Warwick, Coventry.

Delegates comprised of PCA members, non-members, contractors, surveyors, lawyers, public authorities and academics, who received valuable insights across a range of topics from a packed programme of speakers.

The day can only be described as incredibly successful and we look forward to welcoming you again next year.

Delegate feedback

“Interesting content, including new problems and great pictures to illustrate them.”. [conference delegate]

“Speakers were very engaging”. [conference delegate]

“This was a really great line-up of speakers!”. [conference delegate]

“Very knowledgable speakers – very informative.”. [conference delegate]

“Very excellent variety of topics.”. [conference delegate]

“Very broad which kept the conference fresh and interesting.”. [conference delegate]

Photo gallery

Images from the day can be viewed in the photo gallery. Click here

Programme & Speaker Presentations

Session 1: “Identification”
Session Chair: Robert Mitchell, Conservation Land Services Ltd

Rachel Naden, Yorkshire Water
Topic: [Presentation link] “Horizon Scanning: Identifying the water industry’s worst weeds”

Laura Jones, AECOM
Topic: [Presentation link] “Plant identification: The first step”

Dr Johan van Valkenburg, National Plant Protection Organisation
Topic: [Presentation link] “What plants are a current issue in countries across the Channel, that could become a problem quite quickly in the UK?”

Session 2: “Assessment”
Session Chair: Trevor Renals, Environment Agency (EA)

Jim Glaister, The Knotweed Company
Topic: [Presentation link] “Under the Radar: Buddleia and Bamboo”

Dr Peter Fitzsimons, PCA
Topic: [Presentation link] “Site-level invasive weed risk assessments – optimising outcomes”

Robert Stevens, Nationwide
Topic: [Presentation link] “Mortgages and finance in today’s invasive weed management”

Colin Liptrot, Environment Agency
Topic: [Presentation link] “Health and Safety in invasive weed management: Achieving Best Practice”

Session 3: “Response”
Session Chair: Dr Richard Shaw, CABI

Jim Glaister, The Knotweed Company
Topic: [Presentation link] “Treating Buddleia, Bamboo and Giant Hogweed”

Rodger Burnett, Charles Lyndon
Topic: [Presentation link] “The Court of Appeal’s Take on Matters”

Alun Oliver, E3 Consulting
Topic: [Presentation link] “Land Remediation Tax Relief and Japanese Knotweed”

Mark Buckingham, BayerCropScience
[Presentation link not available] “Glyphosate: An insight into its current approval status”