Theo Pike

In recent years, we've all become more familiar with the idea of invasive species.

Plants and animals as varied as giant hogweed, the mink and oak processionary moths regularly make headlines because of the health, environmental and economic problems they cause. Invasive deer contribute to more than 74,000 traffic accidents in the UK every year, while Japanese knotweed added £70m to the bill for staging the London Olympics, and could soon stop you getting a mortgage on your house.

These invasive species destroy crops and forestry, dump silt into rivers, sabotage drains and electrical infrastructure, cut off access to beautiful places, and drive native rare and iconic species to extinction.

And they cost us all a lot of money – at least £1.8bn to the UK economy each year.

How can you help stop this expensive, dangerous (and ultimately boring) slide towards global blandification?
Read this book and then roll up your sleeves!
• Over 40 different species featured

• List of actions you can take

• Useful contact list for those getting involved

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