A wildlife charity has urged gardeners not to plant rhododendrons.The Woodland Trust said the invasive plant could carry a disease that could be fatal to more than 150 species.The Lincolnshire-based charity has called on the government to introduce stricter measures to stop the plant being imported.It said it had spent £360,000 on removing invasive plants over the past year.
Rebecca Gosling, an expert in tree disease at the trust, said invasive species had placed pressure on wildlife populations.
"Rhododendron ponticum is a real problem for the UK’s native plants and trees.
It is choking native woodland and shading out characteristic plants," she added.
"Action must be taken to protect further species and habitats from the same fate.
The government must treat invasive non-native species as a priority issue".The Woodland Trust, which is based in Grantham, said it cost around £6.2m a year to tackle an estimated 311 invasive species in Great Britain.The BBC has approached the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs for a response.Follow BBC Lincolnshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), external, and Instagram.
The original article contains 181 words, the summary contains 176 words. Saved 3%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
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A wildlife charity has urged gardeners not to plant rhododendrons.The Woodland Trust said the invasive plant could carry a disease that could be fatal to more than 150 species.The Lincolnshire-based charity has called on the government to introduce stricter measures to stop the plant being imported.It said it had spent £360,000 on removing invasive plants over the past year.
Rebecca Gosling, an expert in tree disease at the trust, said invasive species had placed pressure on wildlife populations.
"Rhododendron ponticum is a real problem for the UK’s native plants and trees.
It is choking native woodland and shading out characteristic plants," she added.
"Action must be taken to protect further species and habitats from the same fate.
The government must treat invasive non-native species as a priority issue".The Woodland Trust, which is based in Grantham, said it cost around £6.2m a year to tackle an estimated 311 invasive species in Great Britain.The BBC has approached the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs for a response.Follow BBC Lincolnshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), external, and Instagram.
The original article contains 181 words, the summary contains 176 words. Saved 3%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!