News from the gardening world
Conservationists in Scotland are going to extreme lengths to banish invasive plants from one of the country’s most spectacular gorges.
Abseilers have been enlisted by the National Trust for Scotland at Corrieshalloch Gorge to remove Rhododendron ponticum and Japanese knotweed.
Workers will abseil into the gorge to identify spots where the species have grown and – depending on the size of the plants – inject, weedwipe or spray them with measured doses of herbicide.
Both species are notorious for reducing biodiversity, causing the loss of local flora and fauna. Rhododendrons block out sunlight and prevent other plants from growing, while Japanese knotweed can loosen river banks with its aggressive root systems.
The move will protect Corrieshalloch Gorge’s diverse range of native trees, including aspen, hazel, rowan, birch, pine, and wych elm, and its rich assemblage of mosses, lichens and ferns. The gorge is also home to a variety of wildlife which depend on its flora, such as red squirrels, woodland birds, ravens and golden eagles.
Rob Dewar, nature conservation advisor (North) at National Trust for Scotland, said: “The plants are in a very extreme place to access, but we need to take thorough measures to make sure we identify the areas affected and remove the invasive species.”