End of the British bluebell? Iconic flower under THREAT from Spanish variety
BRITISH bluebells are under threat from a foreign ‘armada’ species - from Spain.
Gardeners are being warned not to be taken in by the beauty of non-native Spanish bluebells
Conservation charity The Woodland Trust has warned the indigenous variety is at risk of the Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica).
It has flowers shaped like a broad bell with a flared rim and is said to be of a more robust nature than the British bluebell.
The spanish plant is threatening the future of the English bluebell
An enchanting carpet of native bluebells is a great indicator of ancient woodland
Conservation experts are warning people to buy the British variety rather than imports to protect their future.
A spokesman for The Woodland Trust, which has set up a survey called Big Bluebell Watch, said: “An enchanting carpet of native bluebells is a great indicator of ancient woodland, which is one of our rarest and most irreplaceable habitats, covering just two per cent of the country’s land mass.”
If the Spanish Bluebell is left unchecked, the native bluebell could disappear from our woods
“It is hugely important to look after the flora and fauna within, so the charity is asking visitors to bluebell woods to stick to the marked trails and avoid trampling bluebells, so they can be preserved in the short and long term.”
Bluebells traditionally bloom between mid-April and late May, before the full woodland canopy casts its shade.