Not to be sniffed at

Claire Jackson meets the highly intelligent sniffer dogs that can help to detect invasive Japanese knotweed, even when it lies dormant in the ground

- Claire Jackson

TROTTING through the woods, Fenix could be any other dog out enjoying the late-autumn sunshine. But, as we turn into a large scrubby patch of land, Kat Janczur takes out a khaki harness and Fenix’s demeanour changes: the apparel signifies that work is about to begin. Miss Janczur gives the Dutch shepherd his instructions; after only a few minutes, he sits expectantly at a small bushy plant. We follow, eager to see the discovery. Miss Janczur delves into her pocket for a biscuit, which Fenix (above) happily gulps before he is dispatched to the next area of the site. His quarry is Japanese knotweed, an invasive non-native species that can become problematic if not appropriately managed and, under the 1990 Environmental Protection Act, must be removed by and disposed of by specialists.

These include Knotweed Services UK (www.knotweedservices.co.uk), which works in partnership with Miss Janczur and her dogs at Canine Detection Solutions (www. k9detectionsolutions.co.uk) to help ensure no plant is missed—a challenge with this particular species, as it can lie dormant under the surface. Miss Janczur has trained her team—Fenix and spaniels Nettle and Nica, named after