… one rhododendron at a time
Raasay has made huge progress with controlling the invasive purple-flowered Rhododendron ponticum, which destroys biodiversity by shading out almost all other plants beneath its canopy. In just over a year, over 160 hectares have been treated – more than half the infested area of 300 hectares and equivalent to over 300 football fields. Using precise and targeted stem treatments, the team have achieved clearance rates consistently over 90%. The project has provided work for three to five local contractors (full-time and part-time). Having people who know the land has shown that communities are well placed to be at the heart of this kind of work, delivering results that are both technically effective and cost-effective. Read more on Tom Lusink’s blog and contact him on tom@raasaydevelopmenttrust.org.