Reporting an invasive non-native species

1. Tell us

If you spot one of our key species (American mink, giant hogweed, Japanese or Himalayan knotweed, Himalayan balsam or American skunk cabbage) in the project area you can report it to us here.

If you send a record from outside our project area we are not able to take management or control action.  However, we will look to send your record to any active invasive species management project we are aware of, relevant to your location, in case it is useful to them. 

We will also send your record to the National Biodiversity Network (see below).

2. Scotland’s Environment web

For any other species that are non-native in Scotland you can report them via the the non-native species reporting form on Scotland’s Environment website. You’ll find information here about current non-native species of concern in Scotland.

All sightings submitted this way are automatically forwarded to the National Biodiversity Network.

If reporting a grey squirrel sighting please do this directly to the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Project.

3. Paths, roads and rail

• Council land – paths, playgrounds, parks, road verges etc
  If you see an invasive plant on council owned land – you can tell your local council. Most councils have a section on their website about invasive non-native species and some have specific reporting forms.  Generally, councils take reports of giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed or Himalayan balsam.

Most councils state that they will only take action to remove plants where it is causing a hazard e.g. giant hogweed near a school or along a footpath, or Japanese knotweed where it poses a risk to a structure.

• Trunk roads
  If it is an invasive non-native plant on a trunk road verge report it to the relevant roads management organisation.  These are – North East and North West Scotland – Bear Scotland, South East Scotland – Amey and South West Scotland – Scotland Transerv
   
• Railways
  Invasive non-native plant species along railway lines can be reported using the ‘report an incident or issue’ form at NetworkRail.

4. Private land

If you see an invasive non-native species growing on private land e.g. gardens or agricultural land you can highlight this to the landowner.  They may not be aware of the plants presence. 

However, be aware there is no legal responsibility for a landowner or householder to remove an invasive non-native species from their land or garden – although there is a requirement to prevent plants spreading into the wild beyond property boundaries.

There is further information on the legislation relevant to invasive non-native species here.

5. National Biodiversity Network

The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) is the central biodiversity database of the UK. All data held by the NBN is made freely and publicly available to organisations and individuals and is shared via the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas.

Collating records in one central place allows for better knowledge and understanding of the spread of non-native species. Improved understanding of the distribution and spread of non-native species will allow large scale co-ordinated action to be better planned and targeted and improve the chances of success.

Anyone can submit species records (native or non-native species) to the NBN.  You can do this via the iRecord website or the iRecord App.