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Presentation Secondary School students, front from left; Caoimhe Hannafin, Muirne Scanlon, Róisín O’Connell, Leona O’Shea, Sarah Tansley. Back from left; Ellie Stewart, Jennifer Nolan, Kelly Tobin, Kate O’Connor and Maebh PIerse of the Eco-Unesco Science project ‘Out With Japanese Knotweed’. Photo by Dermot Crean
PRESENTATION Tralee students are trying to raise public awareness of a weed causing serious problems in the county.
The transition year students are taking part in the Eco Unesco Young Environmental Competition and are tackling the issue of Japanese Knotweed’s spread in Kerry.
The weed is an alien invasive species introduced as an ornamental plant in the 19th century, but has now spread relentlessly across Ireland causing economic and environmental problems.
It can be very costly and difficult to eradicate as the roots can spread up to nine metres from the visible plant and three metres below. The most effective way to control it is to prevent spread, so the instruction to people who come across it on their land is not to dig, cut or disturb and to consult experts.
“The aim of the project is to raise as much awareness of the issue as possible, so people are more aware of how we can control it and not let it get out of hand,” said Roisin O’Connell of the ‘Out With Japanese Knotweed’ group.
How to identify Japanese Knotweed.
“People don’t notice it that much because they don’t know how to identify it, so we’re trying to rectify that,” she added.
The girls researched the plant, conducted surveys in the Tralee area, visited local schools giving talks about the weed and some high profile people like Deputy Michael Healy Rae, Paschal Sheehy, Kerry footballer Aidan O’Mahony, RTE’s Dáithí Ó Sé and they were even featured on Irish TV.
If you want to find out more about the project head over to the ‘Out With Japanese Knotweed’ Facebook page here.
