Knotweed? Not that I can see...

An interesting and admittedly puzzling article in yesterday's Wales on Sunday that 'extremists are waging war on a Welsh university [Aberystwyth] over experiments on animals'.

"The anonymous anti-vivisectionists have launched a campaign against the University of Wales in Aberystwyth, claiming the institution carries out "cruel and pointless" tests. They are also targeting the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER), which has a research farm in Aberystwyth and enjoys close working links with academics.

"Yesterday, the University of Wales said it did not carry out research which caused suffering to animals. Its website says students do take part in dissection and studies tissues of freshly killed animals.

"Communicating with Wales on Sunday by e-mail, the activists say their campaign is well underway. Action so far, they say, includes spreading highly destructive Japanese knotweed over parts of the university grounds and sending 1,000 letters of complaint to the university.
They claim to have poured smelly acid into university toilets, changing rooms and a library, texted university staff with abusive messages and spray-painted red graffiti on the drives and gates of their homes. IGER signs are also said to have been sprayed with slogans.

"The group says university staff and IGER workers have also had their personal car details used to apply for lots of car insurance quotes to clog up their home and work phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

"University spokesman Arthur Dafis refused to confirm if the institution had been hit by extremists. However security staff at IGER said their facility had been hit.

"Mr Dafis said: "The University of Wales does not undertake any scientific research that causes suffering or distress to animals, and all work is, of course, covered by the required Home Office licences."

Well, I haven't heard or seen anything about this - although I probably wouldn't know if staff were being harassed. Or I don't know what Japanese knotweed looks like so I can't tell you if I've spotted it around university grounds. Any reports of sightings would be welcome!