Funky
Sunday 8th September 2002, 11:17
Does anyone know what the effects of leaving Bindweed to its own devices are?
I have asked several wardens at Blacktoft Sands about the increasing Bindweed problem and they simply poo poo my concerns. They say it can't survive in the brackish lagoons! Well its jolly well destroying the rest of the reserves reed beds. In the few years I've been frequenting the reserve the Bindweed has made definate inroads into not only the reeds but also the willow shrubs. Several acres of reeds are destroyed yearly and the destruction appears to be getting worse and spreading. Maybe they are reluctant to get rid of the B'weed through spraying due to the sensitive nature of the surrounding habitat. I do hope they are right and the B'weed will not encroach across the reserve.
It looks such a complete mess at this time of year. A flattened heap of mangled plantlife which has been dragged down and suffocated by the B'weed for hundreds of metres along the footpaths. If they aren't going to try and stop this menace then why on earth don't they clear the land and plant something like Thistle, Teasel, Sunflower etc to give the birds lots more winter feed. The land at present is simply an eyesore and is useless to bird or man.
I have asked several wardens at Blacktoft Sands about the increasing Bindweed problem and they simply poo poo my concerns. They say it can't survive in the brackish lagoons! Well its jolly well destroying the rest of the reserves reed beds. In the few years I've been frequenting the reserve the Bindweed has made definate inroads into not only the reeds but also the willow shrubs. Several acres of reeds are destroyed yearly and the destruction appears to be getting worse and spreading. Maybe they are reluctant to get rid of the B'weed through spraying due to the sensitive nature of the surrounding habitat. I do hope they are right and the B'weed will not encroach across the reserve.
It looks such a complete mess at this time of year. A flattened heap of mangled plantlife which has been dragged down and suffocated by the B'weed for hundreds of metres along the footpaths. If they aren't going to try and stop this menace then why on earth don't they clear the land and plant something like Thistle, Teasel, Sunflower etc to give the birds lots more winter feed. The land at present is simply an eyesore and is useless to bird or man.