ALIEN INVASION?
The New Zealand flatworm is a slimy, invasive species that landed on British soils over 50 years ago and has been eating the native earthworms ever since. Studies in Scotland suggest that where the flatworm flourishes, earthworm numbers decline, sending mole populations into a nosedive. With fewer earthworm burrowsb and so less drainage, fields can be transformed from lush grass pastures to areas that flood on a regular basis. Now widespread across the UK, the alien species is a cause for concern and scientists are monitoring it carefully to predict its possible future impact.