Other questions were on the establishment of a national water grid, eliminating Japanese knotweed from the UK and the language trends survey 2011.

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Some Americans may view this invasion of a foreign species as somehow fitting and just, given the takeover of so many American acres by invasive Japanese weeds like kudzu and knotweed.

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Meanwhile a team of UK scientists is researching biological control of knotweed with fungus and a species of beetle which keeps the plant to a manageable size in its native Japan.

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Camborne School of Mines belongs to the Cornwall Knotweed Forum, set up to tackle the knotweed menace, which also includes the county and district councils, the Environment Agency, the National Trust and Railtrack.

BBC: Eden 'weeds out' invasive plant