The rise of weeds/undergrowth on Britain's railways and infrastructure

[WWWeed]

I suspect plants are the only things holding some bridges up.

It wouldn't surprise me. There's currently an RAIB investigation into a derailment and collision at watford that occurred a few months back just after network rail had been performing 'vegetation management'.

Rather than doing stuff as and when needed, Network rail like to leave it until they cant anymore and have a massive clean up every ten years or so. The problem with this is where the roots go - which is anyone guess. As they leave it so long things can turn into major trees and bushes with serious root networks and when they are killed it causes havoc for the surrounding banks of land (particularity when it rains as what I am pretty sure was happening in the watford incident).

 

[farmerbarleymow]

In my company we remove the invasive things and try to replace with stuff that is more useful to wildlife and less destructive. Buddleia is awful overall and just forces everything else out by monopolising resources as well as causing destruction to the built environment.

But it is a very pretty plant and bees seem to love it.

 

[existentialist]

But it is a very pretty plant and bees seem to love it.

What about wasps? I sense an agenda here...

 

[farmerbarleymow]

What about wasps? I sense an agenda here...

Drat! I've been rumbled.

 

[two sheds]

But it is a very pretty plant and bees seem to love it.

What about wasps? I sense an agenda here...

Drat! I've been rumbled.

Aka butterfly bush