Knotweed hell at hall could cost thousands to remove
£300k of ‘urgent’ works needed at historic home
DREADED Japanese knotweed has invaded one of Birmingham’s best-known historic houses – and could cost thousands of pounds to remove.
The stubborn weed is notorious for defeating attempts to stop its inexorable spread, and it rapidly takes over landscapes it invades.
Work is now needed at Grade II* -listed Highbury Hall, former family home of Birmingham politician Joseph Chamberlain, to get rid of the menace.
Its removal will be part of a £300,000 project of “urgent” works needed, says the Chamberlain Highbury Trust, which manages the estate in Moseley.
The Trust is looking to make applications to Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the charity’s larger multi-millionpound bid to the Heritage Fund, for the wider redevelopment and restoration of Highbury, has been put off until June.
The shorter term project will focus on the clearance of non-native invasive plants, such as Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam. That will clear the original driveway from the lodge to the hall in order to re-establish the historic approach to the building.
Les Sparks, chairman of the Trust, said: “There is Japanese knotweed in the grounds, and Himalayan balsam which is running wild.
“It produces attractive pink flowers but it takes over everything else. Unless you control it or eradicate it you end up with nothing else
“This project will allow us to get on the ground in the next six months and really deal with it, rather than leaving it to get worse and costing more money in the longrun.”
Highbury Hall, which has been declared “at risk” by Historic England, is used to host weddings, conferences and celebrations. But the Trust’s vision is for Highbury to welcome more young people to learn about civic governance, colonialism and leadership.
Chamberlain, both an MP and Mayor of Birmingham, is widely regarded as the father of municipal local government.
However, repairs are required to the mansion, while significant investment is needed to improve disabled access and install lifts.
A third bid to the Heritage Fund made in December, to the tune of £3 million, was turned down due to competition from other applications.
But a shake-up to the organisation and the way bids will be assessed has given the Trust hope that a fourth application will be successful.
Mr Sparks said: “We are very optimistic. We know it’s a good project. It was only turned down because of a shortage of funds with the Heritage Lottery Fund.
“They have got new arrangements now which suit us better. We think we have a better chance.”