How land left over from the chemical-industry years can suit knotweed, and the signs to watch for in a garden or on a plot.
Widnes grew around its chemical works, and when those closed, a lot of the ground was cleared, levelled or filled. Disturbed land of that type is what knotweed likes, so cleared plots and the odd corner of an estate can hold a stand for a long while.
Look for purple-red shoots near a garage, a fence post or the edge of a drive in spring, tall leafy canes in summer, or dry brown stems in winter.
Leave it alone, photograph it and send the picture to us. If it is knotweed, a survey will show how far the rhizome reaches under your garden and into the next.
