The Heritage Lottery Fund Our Past, Our Future landscape partnership scheme has a dedicated project to tackling non-native species along the rivers of the forest, but it is also facing the terrestrial species through the Working Woodlands project. One of the key target species of the project is rhododendron. Rhododendron is a particular problem as it out-competes other species, forming dense stands that shade out our native species, stopping them from growing. It is also unpalatable to most invertebrate species due to toxins in the foliage and harbours diseases which impact our oak and beech trees.
The Working Woodlands project is removing rhododendron, in addition to cherry laurel and turkey oak, to encourage the growth of our native woodland fauna. The extent of the removal work is being monitored over the course of the four year project, with four sites already showing dramatic reductions in the extent of rhododendron from the first to second year of the project. There has been an average reduction of 83%, with one site having removed 98% of the rhododendron. Further monitoring and management will be required to ensure that the rhododendron does not come back, but this is a really positive step towards reclaiming our native woodlands.
The Working Woodlands project is led by the New Forest Land Advice Service. New Forest Land Advice Service Manager, Julie Melin-Stubbs, said: ‘The combination of highly valued volunteers, skilled contractors and excellent partnership working has contributed to the success of the removal of non-native species at these sites.
‘Volunteers and contractors have removed rhododendron from the sites where it has been found and we have organised for a contractor to remove turkey oak from one of the sites. Turkey oak is a non-native species introduced to the UK as an ornamental tree, which is host to the gall wasp whose larvae damage the acorns of native British oaks. The breeding bird season has begun and so clearance work will be replaced with wildlife surveys. In autumn we will begin further groundwork on sites and we look forward to seeing the results of our work in 2018.’
What you can do?
You can volunteer with one of the work parties to help clear these non-natives from the project sites, but you can also help by looking at your own garden. Whilst rhododendron and cherry laurel are popular choices as evergreen plants, they are not the best choice for wildlife. Consider mixed native planting in hedges, comprising both evergreen and deciduous species such as holly, hazel, blackthorn, hawthorn, beech, yew and field maple. This will provide more habitat for wildlife, giving shelter and food sources throughout the year.
If you are interested in getting involved and volunteering, please email Richard Austin, Volunteer, Training & Mentoring Co-ordinator, at Richard.austin@newforestnpa.gov.uk.
The Working Woodlands project is looking for owners of small, private woodlands in the New Forest looking to bring their land back into active management. To express your interest, please contact Working Woodlands Project Co-ordinator, Gemma Stride at gemma.stride@nflandadvice.org.uk.