Conserving by destroying

Upon leaving the lodge we explored Brodick Castle grounds in search of the elusive red squirrel, unfortunately they were too shy to come and say hello. Then we were introduced to one of the National Trust rangers, who we would be working with.

Our role today would be to cut down and burn the species Rhododendron ponticum. This is a very invasive species, introduced by the naive Victorian gardeners who imported it from Turkey, without realising the consequences of bringing it to Arran. It causes the soil to become toxic and shades the ground cover, therefore limiting the growth of native plants.

Equipped with bow saws and loppers, we hacked away at huge bushes of the afore mentioned plant, with devastating consequences. Some say the fire could be seen from the mainland and serves as a beacon of hope for the wildlife of Arran. After slaving away for many hours we stopped for a well deserved marshmallow toasting session. With sticky fingers and burnt mouths, we continued until we had cleared a large amount of the targeted species.