Rhodo cops wanted
A new initiative is under way in the Highlands to combat the spread of a garden plant that’s a serious threat to native species.
Rhododendrons are a mainstay of many gardens with their bright flowers and attractive foliage. But one particular species, Rhododendron ponticum, has taken over large swathes of Highland roadsides, hillsides and woodlands.
Now the £54,000 Highland Rhododendron Project has been launched to support the battle against this bloom. Funded by SNH, Forestry Commission Scotland and The Highland Council, this project will identify key sites for control and offer support to land
managers who want to stop the further spread of the species. Rhododendron ponticum and its hybrids – often referred to simply as rhododendron – have been identified as a priority to tackle under Scotland’s Species Action Framework (see
www.snh.gov.uk/speciesactionframework). The plant is an invasive, non-native species that presents a real threat to biodiversity. Woodlands, watercourses and rough grazing are at risk from the plant, which thrives on the wet acidic soils of the west coast. Its striking flowers produce thousands of fertile seeds, and the plants themselves can quickly spread outwards to colonise neighbouring land. The picture shows rhododendron invading a native bluebell wood. Nothing will eat it and, left unchecked, the plant develops a dense canopy.
This casts a deep shade and nothing can grow underneath it. The space available for native trees, flowers, mosses, lichens and other wildlife is then reduced. Some of the species being shaded out are more abundant in Scotland than elsewhere in Europe, and a few are not found anywhere else. “Love them or loathe them, we need to get to grips with the ‘pink ponticum’,” commented Julie Paton, the newly appointed Highland rhododendron project officer. “Land managers can get funding through the Scottish Rural Development Programme if they’re concerned about the spread of the rhododendron and its effect on our native plants. We’ll be working to access these funds to remove this plant at key sites. “It’s expensive and time-consuming to get rid of rhododendron totally, and
people’s efforts can be at risk from seeds that are blown in from nearby plants. So we’re keen to encourage people to cooperate in getting rid of the rhoddies and prevent their spread.” Rhododendron ponticum was first introduced to the UK from southwest Spain in 1763. Although hundreds of rhododendrons flourish throughout the Highlands, R. ponticum and its hybrids are the only ones to have jumped the fence and become a real menace in the countryside. The good news for gardeners and collectors is that they needn’t miss out on their own blooms. There are more than 1,000 species of rhododendron, including azaleas, which range in size from 7cm to 30 metres. So there are plenty of alternative rhoddie species available that look great and grow well but don’t set seed like ponticum.
If you’d like further information about the project, contact Julie Paton on 01463 811 653 or email
Julie.paton@
highlandbirchwoods.co.uk.
www.snh.gov.uk 15
NEWS
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