Merseyside
gives bluebells to UK.
Liverpool Daily Post, Wednesday, May 17 2006.
BY ALAN WESTON
Daily Post Staff
A
PIONEERING Merseyside-based initiative to restore Britain's declining native
bluebell population is being extended across the UK.
The Bluebell Recovery Project was established by registered charity Landlife,
with funding support from Objective 1 and Littlewoods, to develop sustainable
stocks of the native bluebell.
In partnership with the Mersey Forest scheme, Landlife has now successfully
developed new bluebell glades around Merseyside, using seeds collected under
licence from sites in North Wales and Runcorn.
Grant Luscombe- Britain has a third of the planet's bluebells.
Merseyside
is the first place in the country where new bluebell glades have been created
to promote the species' recovery.
The results of the project can now be seen at sites including Court Hey
Park in Knowsley; the Old Rough in Kirkby; McGoldricks Park and Clinkham
Wood in St Helens.
Although the bluebell may appear to be widespread, it is the Spanish bluebell
(H. hispanica), introduced to the country in the 16oos, that is most prominent
in Britain. The illegal collection of plants from the wild, combined with
heavy shading due to lack of woodland management, has posed a threat to
native bluebell colonies - the only species of which Britain has a significant
population.
Huge
demand from across the country.
Landlife has now established similar schemes at locations including Leicestershire
and Hull. Grant Luscombe, chief executive of Landlife, said: "We are
receiving a huge demand for bluebell bulbs from schemes around the country
that have taken the lead from what we have achieved on Merseyside.
"To meet the demand we are establishing new bluebell sites on Merseyside,
improving urban environments and putting an iconic species back to the local
area for people to enjoy. Britain has a third of the planet's bluebells
and with this comes the responsibility to preserve the species in the face
of threats, including climate change."
The bluebell project was established in 1995. It takes up to six years to
cultivate a bulb from seed and only then will a plant produce flowers and
seed of its own. Since 1998 it has been an offence to punishable by fine,
to sell bluebells collected from the wild and the bluebell is now a priority
species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).
Landlife is based at the National Wildflower Centre in Knowsley; which opened
five years ago with the support of European funding.
It has been praised by both the European Union and Unesco as an example
of economic regeneration combining with environmental improvements.
