Colour and Threat

The striking purple colour of the flowers of Rhododendron that surrounds the woodland near the car park is a contrast to much of the vegetation on the other side of Hathersage Road, sheep blighted as it is.

Everyone who knows a little about the moors and our countryside generally knows that this plant is non native and invasive, was brought here by reckless Victorians and has little or no value for biodiversity. We've been told that so often that it must be true. Only the most ignorant or awkwardly sceptical could have doubts that it needs vigorously eradicating as a threat to our native plants. Such is the unanimity that it might be a threat to our very way of life.  It's worth putting money on the prediction that we'll be told in a few years time that it has more value than was previously thought.

The plant is Rhododendron ponticum and it comes from the Near East. It's said that as a native of Turkey it is declining in its traditional range and may even be under threat - an interesting perspective on global trends. Will we at some time in the future be declaring it a priority for conservation? 

The woodland inside the belt of Rhododendron has lately been the stage for immensely exciting musical contests between various bird species and I've seen a few bees among the flowers. A hybrid creamy pink dwarf Rhododendron under my kitchen window at home has been astonishingly popular with many different bees in the last week. Only Cotoneaster beats it.

The Hover Flies on Blacka though, preferred the birch.