Invasive non-native species are one of the leading contributors to biodiversity loss on both a local and national scale (coming only second to habitat destruction/loss), but what exactly are they and why do they have such an impact?
Non-native species are plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms which have been introduced (either intentionally or accidentally) to areas outside of their natural geographic range. Most are relatively harmless, but a small amount (around 10-15%) are classed as invasive non-native species (INNS) due to their ability to rapidly spread, colonise, and cause harm to the areas in which they grow - impacting not only native wildlife and the environment but our economy and the way we live our lives. You’ve likely heard of well known INNS like Rhododendron, Japanese knotweed, and Grey squirrels.
Closer to home, our community-woodland Teucheen Wood is also affected by INNS and one of the first tasks of our Friends of Teucheen Wood volunteers was the eradication of rhododendron ponticium growing in two areas of the woodland. Other invasive species are still present in the woodland and their eradication is an important part of Teucheen’s woodland management plan.
Pictured is a lesser-known invasive species present in our woodland, Few Flowered Leek (or Few Flowered Garlic) - a small wild onion (sometimes confused with wild garlic due to its smell), native to the mountains of Central Asia and introduced to the UK as a garden plant.
It spreads rapidly, often forming dense carpets on woodland floors and outcompeting native woodland plants such as snowdrops and ramsons (wild garlic). In Teucheen Wood, its growth is mostly confined to one corner of the woodland. The Trust recently started work on its removal with the help of Inchinnan Primary School’s P7 pupils (as part of their John Muir Discovery Award).
Learn more about INNS at: https://www.nonnativespecies.org
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