Another arm to Covanburn as well as the Rail and Civils side of the business is dealing with invasive species of plant namely, Falopia japonica (Japanese knotweed), Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam), Rhododendron ponticum, Heracleum mantegazzian (Giant hogweed).

These plants were introduced in the 1800’s to the UK by plant hunters seeking out new and exciting plants for the more wealthy to showcase in their gardens.

As these plants have no natural predators in our country to stop their advance, they have become invasive and caused a great amount of damage to our flora, fauna, roads and rail infrastructure, foundations of buildings and peoples homes.

The plants spread so quickly they threaten our biodiversity by outcompeting our native flora, thus causing loss of habitat for our native species.

• According to Government statistics, the cost of Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) in the UK alone was approx £1.7b
• Estimated total annual costs of INNS to England is £1,288,262.00 and to Scotland is £250,144.00
• Total annual costs of Falopia japonica to the British economy is estimated at £166m
• The total cost of controlling Japanese Knotweed on the road network in the UK is estimated at £5,095,894

• £2m was spent to eradicate Falopia japonica on one 2 hectare development site
• £757,085 in Scotland alone
• Globally – total loss to world economy as a result of INNS is 5% of annual production
• Globally, INNS have contributed to 40% of the animal extinctions that have occurred in the last 400 years (CBD, 2006)
• 20-30% of all introduced species worldwide cause a problem