Today the TCV Stirling Midweek Group went out to Kippenrait Glen to finish up some native and non-native invasive species removal. We removed some of the rhododendrons that have regrown from previous visits to prevent them spreading over the area. These non-native invasive species grow extremely quickly through ground roots and from small cutting which can easily establish in the soil and often prevent other species from establishing in the area they occupy.
We also removed beech tree’s in the area. These are native to Scotland, and the rest of the UK, but as they grow so well and their canopy is so well established they can often take over areas of woodland where a wider variety of native trees would be more beneficial for the wildlife and overall health of the forest.
The many small ash tree saplings growing in the forest are a great sign if you’ve heard about the Chalara dieback of ash trees currently in the news which is found in 26% of the UK.
We saw some lovely robins, a coal tit and an inquisitive dog who managed to sneak a bit of a volunteer’s sandwich!
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