Clare County Council has announced a series of free public workshops in Ennis, Killaloe, Shannon and Miltown Malbay on controlling Japanese knotweed and other non-native invasive plant species.
Led by Clare-based chartered environmentalist and invasive species expert Dr Frances Giaquinto, the practical two-hour workshops will guide members of the public through the steps to effectively control and eradicate non-native invasive plant species from their property.
Since it was introduced as an ornamental plant from Japan in the 19th Century, Japanese knotweed has spread across the island of Ireland, particularly along watercourses, transport routes and waste grounds where its movement is unrestricted.
“The aim of each workshop is to raise awareness, to help the general public to identify Japanese knotweed and other non-native invasive plant species, and to give them advice on what actions to take if they come across knotweed on their own property, or locality”, advised Karen Foley, Environmental Awareness Officer with Clare County Council.
The workshops are free of charge, open to everyone and will be held from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm at the Civic Room, Buttermarket Building, Drumbiggle, Ennis (Tuesday 19th March), West Clare Resource Centre, Miltown Malbay (Monday 25 March); The Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe (Tuesday 26th March) and Oakwood Arms Hotel, Shannon (Wednesday 27 March). Tea and coffee will be served from 6.40 pm.
Dr Frances Giaquinto, who specialised in invasive species including invasive tree diseases, outlined, “By the end of the workshop participants will know how to identify Japanese knotweed and related species with confidence, assess the severity of an infestation, take effective action and what you must not do, remain compliant with current legislation relating to invasive species, safely buy or sell property where there is Japanese knotweed and identify other non-native invasive plant species that you are likely to encounter in County Clare.”
The workshops are supported by Clare County Council and the Department of Communication Climate Action & the Environment through the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund 2018.
For more information on these workshops please email f.giaquinto@outlook.com.