Wildlife officer to wage war on Loch Lomond pest plant

Jun 26 2009 by Amanda McKendrick, Lennox Herald (main ed)

A WILDLIFE officer has been appointed to wage war on a plant which is threatening to overwhelm parts of Loch Lomond.

Liz Poulsom has been hired to lead a Forestry Commission and Scottish National Heritage programme to control the spread of rhododendron ponticum bushes, which currently cover around 10,000 acres in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

Ms Poulsom said the plant was disastrous for regenerating woodlands because nothing could grow underneath.

She added: “We need to take severe and urgent action. Tackling the spread and reducing its range will make a huge difference to our landscape, both for people enjoying our woodlands and our commercial forestry.”