Something in the national news to give us some hope in Cheadle & Gatley: the BBC reports an insect is being released which kills knotweek.

A tiny Japanese insect that could help the fight against an aggressive superweed has been given the go-ahead for a trial release in England.

Since Japanese knotweed was introduced to the UK it has rapidly spread, and the plant currently costs over £150m a year to control and clear.

But scientists say a natural predator in the weed’s native home of Japan could also help to control it here.

Wildlife Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: “These tiny insects, which naturally prey on Japanese Knotweed, will help free local authorities and industry from the huge cost of treating and killing this devastating plant.”

Knotweed is currently holding up (and inflating the price) for adopting Ashfield Road and putting proper parking restrictions in place, and it’s an ongoing issue elsewhere in Gatley and Cheadle.

Because it grows so vigorously, from a piece as small as a fingernail, and can push through concrete, clearing it away is time consuming and expensive.