MEMBERS of the Okement Rivers Improvement Group in Okehampton are urging local people to get involved in a drive to eradicate Japanese Knotweed.
The Environment Agency is compiling a database of sites where the invasive plant is growing in a bid to stamp it out over the next few years.
The rivers improvement group, which is becoming increasingly aware of this vigorous alien plant in the Okehampton area especially on riverbanks, wants people to pick up a leaflet from the Town Hall which gives a guidance for householders and landowners.
Group member Alan Flack said: 'The environment agency wants to know the main sites in Devon and a form is enclosed for reporting these,' he said.
'They are particularly concerned about knotweed near watercourses because of dangers to wildlife or contamination of the water by incorrect herbicides.'
Mr Flack said the plant could establish itself anywhere — incredibly the rhizomes could reach a depth of 10ft and travel as far as 23ft away from the parent plant, eventually crowding out native species such as bluebells.
Many of the insects that are dependent on our native plants are also lost.