Quote Originally Posted by SDM View Post
I've seen it successfully cleared from several sites and since it can and would infest most of the uk if given the chance it's not one to give up on eradicating.
Was talking to a lady involved in a hoped for project to clear this from the River Earn from Crieff to the sea. They considered the effort and expected expense to be very worthwhile, though I doubt the beekeepers agree.

Its not a huge bit of river and its not all full of it, but the expenditure they hoped to have approved was in the high six figures, verging on seven. This would be ANNUALLY for the foreseeable future. Apply this to the whole of Scotland and its a LOT of money. For a lot less you could deal with a truly noxious plant, Giant Hogweed, yet it grows in forests in places, especially around Perth. Once the numbers are added up the cost benefit ratio does not work out, no matter how ideologically pure an attempted eradication might be.

One patch and a decent flood later, and you have it all to do again next spring. Its here to stay.