The Native Bluebell - Save A National Treasure
7 April 2008
The Central Scotland Forest Trust (CSFT) launches its year-long 'Alarm Bells for Bluebells' campaign at The Falkirk Wheel on Monday 7 April. The campaign aims to prevent the flower, a national treasure, vanishing from Scotland .
The bluebell is one of Scotland 's favourite flowers, but it is fast becoming an endangered species due to hybridisation (interbreeding with foreign species of bluebells) and its preferred habitat disappearing.
And with support from British Waterways Scotland , National Trust Scotland , Woodland Trust Scotland and Plant Life, CSFT plans to save the national treasure, boosting the number of bluebells growing in central Scotland by over 25,000 in the next year. To start the campaign 10,000 bluebell bulbs will be given away at The Falkirk Wheel on Monday 7 April.
Simon Rennie, chief executive of CSFT, said: "This beautiful plant is found in woodland but, worryingly, much of this ideal habitat has been destroyed as a result of land use changes and developments.
"These factors, and the invasion of the hybrid and Spanish varieties, have all contributed to the decline of the native species.
"Something needs to be done, and CSFT has taken up the cause."
Olivia Lassiere, Heritage and Environment Manager for British Waterways Scotland said: "British Waterways is committed to sustainable environmental management and we actively promote and encourage practical conservation initiatives on our network. Scotland 's canals are a haven for a wide variety of plant life and the mature woodlands and hedgerows along them provide perfect conditions for native flowers such as the bluebell. We fully support this CSFT campaign as the bluebell is an important part of Scotland 's natural heritage and the woodland areas surrounding the Falkirk Wheel are an excellent place to start your hunt for this stunning plant."
The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating arm with gondolas at either end which turns like the sails of a windmill lifting and lowering boats from one level to another, joining the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals . Situated in a natural amphitheatre, it is the only structure of its kind in the world and visitors can see it in action on a special boat trip. Further information at [blocked::http://www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk/ www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk]
To stem the decline, CSFT aims to increase awareness of this issue in communities throughout Scotland by promoting the bluebells' plight and raising funds to plant them.
The environmental charity has also introduced a text mechanism which will allow supporters to donate £3 towards planting 10 bluebells by texting 'bluebells' to 82540.
Members of the public will also be encouraged to search and record the locations of all varieties, send in photographs, help plant bulbs at organised events and even receive free bulbs to plant themselves.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The bluebell native to Scotland is, in fact, the British Bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta , which is also known as the Wild Hyacinth in Scotland . It is different to the Spanish Bluebell and the Harebell. The UK is home to about half the world's population of Hyacinthoides non-scripta , with Scotland being its most northerly habitat.
The Spanish bluebell, which was introduced to British gardens in the 17 th century, escaped into the wild and cross-bred with our native variety resulting in a third of Britain 's current bluebell population being either Spanish or hybrid.
The native bluebell is very different from its Spanish relative. The density and intense colour of a native bluebell woodland rewards onlookers with a blanket of blue. The bells of the British bluebell are positioned on the top of the plant and always droop down one side of the stem. It also gives off a strong sweet smell.
Issued by The BIG Partnership on behalf of Central Scotland Forest Trust. For further information, please contact Eleanor Marshall or Marjorie Calder on 0141 333 9585 or eleanor.marshall@bigpartnership.co.uk /
marjorie.calder@bigpartnership.co.uk
For further info, please visit www.csft.org.uk
British Waterways Scotland
Responsibility for inland waterways in Scotland is a devolved matter, with funding for British Waterways' Scottish activities coming from the Scottish Government. In Scotland the 137-mile (220km) canal network includes the Caledonian, Crinan, Forth & Clyde, Union and Monkland canals.
British Waterways Scotland works in partnerships with local authorities, voluntary groups, private companies and other government agencies to protect and enhance the waterways and benefit the communities through which they run.
The organisation balances the conservation of the country's heritage and environment with developing commercial opportunities to generate income to reinvest in the waterways for further sustainable regeneration.
The Falkirk Wheel
The Falkirk Wheel was officially opened by HRH Queen Elizabeth II on 24 May 2002. This exceptional feat of engineering is also a sculpture for the 21 st century.
Originally designed to reconnect the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals between Glasgow and Edinburgh, re-establishing east to west coast access for boats, the Wheel is a fitting symbol (centrepiece) for the £84.5 million Millennium Link project, the largest UK canal restoration ever.
It is situated in a natural amphitheatre outside Falkirk and is the only structure of its kind in the world.
The Wheel is the height of 8 double decker buses and is capable of lifting loads equivalent to the weight of 100 African elephants and can carry 8 or more boats at a time.