March 30th 2023.
The volunteers from the Kinclaven Woodland Working Group have achieved a remarkable success: the complete eradication of the invasive Rhododendron ponticum bush from Kinclaven Bluebell Wood in Perthshire! The team of 50 spent 2,000 hours over the last four years to reduce the thick mass of the plant, which had previously occupied more than six acres of the Woodland Trust site.
Site manager Jill Aitken expressed her admiration for the volunteers’ hard work: “If left uncontrolled, Rhododendron ponticum will eventually dominate a wood to the exclusion of all other plant life. It is an incredible service our volunteer working group has delivered.” The project had to be undertaken between September and March each year to avoid disturbing nesting birds, and the additional disruption caused by Covid restrictions posed further challenges.
However, the Kinclaven team was able to develop a self-developed method to overcome the problematic plant. Once removed and cut down, the plant was divided into leaf and wood material, then stacked separately with roots pointing upward, allowing them to break down into the forest floor. Group leader Ian Riches said: “It has taken a long time, so it was all the more satisfying to hack out the very last bush. Even in the midst of all the sawing and bashing – this wood is a stunning place to be. You go to bed tired but happy.”
This is an amazing achievement and a testament to the dedication of the volunteers! Read more stories about bees and other creatures on Scottish Field’s wildlife pages, plus don’t miss Andy Dobson’s article about black grouse in the April issue of Scottish Field magazine.
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