Environmental vandalism

[spandit]

Decided to tackle some of the rhododendron on my dog walk. They're big and well established and although rather magical once inside the clump (great place for a camp and I've always had a sneaking admiration for invasive species) they're choking the native woodlands.

Attacked them with a bowsaw but really need to take a chainsaw and a vehicle to carry the big bits away (not my land so not accessible) - would give me firewood for a few years!

 

[Hugo]

Is there a moral to this story spandit.

 

[spandit]

Is there a moral to this story spandit.

No, not really. Just a comment on how vast the task of eradicating rhododendron is

 

[Retired Member southey]

spoon it!

 

[Hugo]

I remember the Rhododendron fires we had at Broadstone, bit too smelly for my liking, mind you I do suffer from asthma.

 

[Geoff Dann]

Decided to tackle some of the rhododendron on my dog walk. They're big and well established and although rather magical once inside the clump (great place for a camp and I've always had a sneaking admiration for invasive species) they're choking the native woodlands.

Attacked them with a bowsaw but really need to take a chainsaw and a vehicle to carry the big bits away (not my land so not accessible) - would give me firewood for a few years!

I was out walking in Sussex today and was thinking to myself that the first thing I'd do if I owned the bit of woodland I was walking in would be to launch an all-out offensive against the dreaded rhododendron. It is a real pain in the backside, not just because it chokes off the native wildlife (all of it) but because it produces such impenetrable growth that you can't even force your way through. It's like a solid wall. If only there was an easy way to get rid of it.

 

[British Red]

One assumes you had the landowners permission?

 

[Geoff Dann]

One assumes you had the landowners permission?

I only thought about what I'd do if I owned it. I don't need the landowners permission to dream!

I was there looking for mushrooms, but the rhododendrons were so thick in some places that it was hard to find a way through to the next bit of pine woodland. It had been recently logged in places, and was a bit of a mess anyway, but whoever did the logging didn't bother to deal with the rhododendron menace.

ETA: the logging itself was pretty close to "environmental vandalism". There were tyre ruts two feet deep, filled with water.

 

[British Red]

I was asking Spandit

 

[mountainm]

Just to note - Rhodedendron is a poisonous wood so shouldn't be used for cooking fires.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Got any proof of that mountainm

 

[mountainm]

Got any proof of that mountainm

From a thread on here somewhere.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Ahh, no I meant proof.

 

[mountainm]

Ahh, no I meant proof.

http://www.rhodyman.net/rhodytox.html

If a web page can be proof. Google has loads on it.

 

[Retired Member southey]

No that's not relating to fire is it, do you have any proof that the any special poisoning toxin other that what would normally be found in wood smoke survives the wood being burnt in such a way as to poison food cooked over it?

 

[mountainm]

No that's not relating to fire is it, do you have any proof that the any special poisoning toxin other that what would normally be found in wood smoke survives the wood being burnt in such a way as to poison food cooked over it?

Nope. Only going on what others have said on here.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Was very kindly sent this study, looks as though it is the same as any other wood.

http://www.wildresources.co.uk/reports/rhodo_eng.pdf

 

[Kepis]

Was very kindly sent this study, looks as though it is the same as any other wood.

http://www.wildresources.co.uk/reports/rhodo_eng.pdf

Interesting read that, well the parts i read were, cheers Southey - every day is a school day, now to see if i can remember my A Level Chemistry for the formulae that the report has listed

 

[Pierr]

Note that cutting rhododendron might actually worsen the issue a few years down the road. The local wood near my place also has some areas well under threat and I did cut a few (also does nice spoon wood - because of shapes and takes a lovely color when oiled). Then I went reading a bit more and learned that stumps regrow more vigorous and with more numerous shoots.

It is a shame because it is very invasive. Best method seems to be drilling a hole in the trunk and pour herbicide. But I don't really see myself coming to the woods with a bottle of herbicide ... Don't know the stuff enough to know about side effects.

 

[Stew]

Was very kindly sent this study, looks as though it is the same as any other wood.

http://www.wildresources.co.uk/reports/rhodo_eng.pdf

Good to know!

Am I right in thinking it's not a very good fuel wood though? Seem to remember someone saying it doesn't burn well?