Checking land for Japanese knotweed

[Ruggers]

I'm looking to buy some land in a woodland that needs cleared before building and wanted to check that there is no knotweed. There is a lot of Rhododendron and some bracken to clear but im not sure what knotweed would look like at this time of year? The land has been left for 30 years unattended so if it was present, would it be all over or just in certain areas?

Some pictures attached.

 

[lostinthelight]

Nothing obvious that looks like JK, pity to spoil that wildlife habitat by sticking buildings on it though.

 

[Ruggers]

Thanks

Theres already some houses around it Its a medium sized dwelling carefully positioned within the trees which are to be left as they are.

 

[Ruggers]

Out of interest are any of these k otweed or just bracken etc. Everything looks similar in winter. These were out on a walk today

 

[lostinthelight]

flowering stem of dock and Angelica cow parsley or Hogweed

 

[nauseous]

spray the whole goddamn jungle with soda crystals

 

[Ruggers]

Last uploads. I've just found some early September vs January videos i took of the land. Here are some screenshots and pictures The summer is a lot thicker but looks like its been cleared with the space difference. Does any of this look like it?

 

[Notch7]

No knotweed there.

Looks an idea spot where the planners mention 'biodiversity survey'.

That woodland looks the idea spot for great crested newts.
Is that a dartford warbler I can see.

Im only joking, but any of those could cost more than knotweed. I did a job where a new house replaced an old one -a bat survey cost £10k.

On a big site locally, the developer bulldozed up all the top soil into huge mounds to make a biodiversity survey impossible.

Ashdown forest near me had the Dartford Warbler, a planning exclusion zone of 7km radius was the result.
Then the council complained business in the area wasnt doing well.

 

[Ruggers]

Thanks for your reply. No there have been a handful of plots sold and some built, bat surveys have been completed and outline permission granted. It was suggested to me when purchasing land of this type to consider things like knotweed and when checking an online uk map of reported and confirmed sightings, one came up for an area over a road 100m away which im making enquiries about. Ive looked at many pictures and walked the land and cant see anything but with some being recorded close by had me concerned. A company said they would do a site survey for it at a cost of £320 with test holes dug. There was another around £200 but not sure if they offer the same.