Root benefits
While the main reasons for removing rhododendron from Simon's Wood are to improve conditions for native wildlife and enhance biodiversity, there are also several other significant benefits.
In 2015, a professional survey of all the iconic Wellingtonia trees along the Simon's Wood area of Wellingtonia Avenue found that pedestrian footfall along the path next to these trees was causing serious compaction to their root zone, ultimately damaging their health. By removing nearby rhododendron, we've been able to relocate this footpath through the woods, relieving the pressure to the Wellingtonia trees and helping them stay healthy for years to come.
Clearing large areas of rhododendron at a time has also improved the condition of some of the wet and muddy paths, as more light has been able to reach the woodland floor, drying it out more quickly. Clearing the rhododendron from the banks has also widened many of the rides, allowing people the option to walk around the wetter areas. Importantly for visitors, the car park is now also much more open and visible, deterring antisocial behaviour and creating a safer environment for everyone.
Help from the community
The difference that has been made to the habitats at Simon's Wood is due to an enormous amount of hard work that has been put in by our dedicated team of volunteers from the local community, who turn out twice a month - come rain or shine. They have been supported recently by local companies such as Salesforce and Dell, who have lent many pairs of hands through popular employee volunteering schemes.
There is still much rhododendron to clear, but the progress made so far has been encouraging, and it will be exciting to see how the woodlands develop and the biodiversity changes without the dominance of the rhododendron.