The Great British Annual Cost of Aliens Race

Since 2010, the UK's costs of dealing with invasive non-native species have more than doubled. These 'alien' animals, plants and fungi cost the country £1.7bn in 2010 and almost £4bn today (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/06/japanese-knotweed-invasive-non-native-species-costing-uk-4bn-a-year-ash-dieback). Some alien species were deliberately introduced, historically. The rabbit came along with the Romans as a convenient snack. The Grey squirrel made its way from Canada because a noble enthusiast thought it made a change from the 'common' Red. Gardeners welcomed Japanese knotweed as a useful additional ornamental plant. Other species, have just evaded biosecurity measures, slipping quietly into the country with people, their animals or on traded goods. Currently, scientists place the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus in first place, in the Great British Annual Cost of Aliens race. This fungus causes 'ash dieback'. Clearing up the ravages of ash dieback, costs the UK circa £890m per year. In second place, dependable Japanese knotweed still consumes £250m per annum. The rest of the circa £4bn cost per annum, is generated by a wide range of invasive non-native species. Since 'Brexit', there have been repeated suggestions of 'relaxing' the UK's biosecurity, to facilitate 'trade'. This seems a potentially very expensive idea.