Invasive, non native species

Position statement

We manage invasive non‑native plants to protect people, places and wildlife across South Lanarkshire. These plants can harm health, damage property and infrastructure, and affect local habitats. We focus on the most harmful species and work with residents, landowners and partner organisations to control their spread.

Priority plants to report

We prioritise four plants that cause the greatest risk:

Priority 1 (highest risk)

Priority 2 (targeted control)

If you spot these plants, you can report them to us so we can assess what action is needed.

What we do on council land

respond to reports and assess priority 1 species
control plants where there is evidence they have spread from council land
manage priority 2 plants at key locations such as local nature reserves
keep records of priority 1 species and share information with relevant organisations
monitor and review how well control methods are working

Support for private land

If the plants are on private land, we can:

give advice on identification and treatment options
help you confirm what species you have
share guidance through our website and partners
work with partners to keep local records up to date

We may carry out control if you can show the plant spread from council land or council activity.

How plants are controlled

Control depends on the plant, location and extent of growth. Methods may include:

careful use of approved herbicides
targeted treatment of individual plants
physical removal, including digging or cutting

Treatment is carried out at the right time of year. Control can take several years, and complete removal is not always possible.

Find out more

You can learn more about invasive plants on the https://www.nature.scot.