Non-native species cost economy £1.7bn

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/32lx4xt

Who would have thought it?

Richard Benyon, Defra Minister for the Natural Environment, said:.....

Roseanna Cunningham, Scottish Government Minister for Environment and Climate Change, said: ..........

Jane Davidson, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing in the Welsh Assembly Government, said..............

Plenty of advise from persons with fancy titled jobs, but as always very little done.

This one has to be the best from Ms Cunningham,

/// "A better understanding of the negative impacts of invasive non-native species can help us raise awareness to help prevent introductions in the first place and to better respond to problems." ///

A bit late in the Grey Squirrel's case, don't you think?

[jake-the-peg]

That's because they are simplifying the issue and only showing one side of it.

Look at the plants in your garden - how many do you think are native? - precious few!

The issue is to balance the need to introduce new and beneficial species with the risk of things like Japanese knotweed.

Not quite sure I get where you're going with the squirrel analogy, reds may look pretty but I'm not sure that the replacement of reds with greys and possibly blacks soon has cost us much in the way of cash.

[anotheoldgit]

On a personal basis Jake, they cost me cash in buying new bird feeds that they destroy to get at the bird's nuts, they dig up my spring bulbs, and they strip the bark off the trees.

My neighbour once had them in their loft, and the mess they caused was behond belief not to mention the damage to the house's electric wiring.

They are just rats with fluffy tails.

[anotheoldgit]

Just an after thought, I thought the headline would attract you.

Only a joke.

[jake-the-peg]

I agree

But I don't think the red ones are little saints!

I don't think the issue of whether or not they are native is relevant

Do you want to give the green light to wolves and bears because they were native and are now extinct in the UK?

[chelle7272]

Nice headline AOG

[rowanwitch]

probably costs more than that if you factor in the cost of all the experts, environmentalists, and tv presenters (bet Chris Packham doesn't come cheap these days) telling us about how non native species cause so many problems...japanese knotweed is usually chosen as the worst offender but the rhododendron may well be having a greater impact...but they are pretty so don't get the bad press...

[anotheoldgit]

/// Do you want to give the green light to wolves and bears because they were native and are now extinct in the UK? ///

It would give the poor old fox a bit of a rest.

Don't know about the Bears but they are trying to re-introduce the wolf back in the UK.

[anotheoldgit]

ROWANWITCH.I

Interesting user-name, anything to do with the Rowan Tree (Mountain Ash), also Witch wood, Witchbane, Witchen, Witchen Tree?

[rov1200]

I believe there is a scheme actually running to kill off most of the grey squirrels. They are a menace not only to us but the native red types also.

I suppose the usual animal loving fraternity will put an end to it!