The Environment Department undertakes weekly checks around the Island for the signs of invasive threats to the environment such as ash die-back and xylella fastidiosa, which can affect 200 varieties including sycamore, oak and fruit trees, roses and lavender.
Now the department intends to be more proactive in getting the message across to travellers that by bringing in plants from France and elsewhere in Europe, they could be endangering the countryside.
Plant pathologist Steve Thompson said: ‘We are going to have to get tougher with people. We want to inform the public about the risks involved in bringing plants to the Island, so we are going to be more proactive by carrying out stricter checks.’
