Invasive flora and fauna cost UK economy £2bn

Invasive species of plants and animals cost the UK economy in excess of £2billion last year, a coalition of conservation groups has warned.

Action is needed by the Government to tackle the rising costs of invasive species such as Japanese knotweed, grey squirrels and mink as well as new invaders, the charities coordinated by Wildlife and Countryside Link urged.

Japanese knotweed, which harms habitats, increases soil erosion and flood risk and damages buildings, railways and roads, tops the list of costly species with a £200million price tag to tackle it in 2017. The second worst was the New Zealand flatworm, which preys on worms and snails.