White stinking onion flowers a threat to bluebell woods’ future
GUERNSEY’S bluebell woods could be lost, if white stinking onions flowers are not kept under control, Guernsey Conservation Volunteers operations director Angela Salmon has said.
She made the warning after a successful trial to remove three one-tonne bags of the white flower bulbs, which has left an east coast area filled with blue flowers this spring. Further clearances are now planned.
Miss Salmon said the GCV members were islanders who cared about the natural environment and conservation projects.
‘We are thrilled with the success of this trial in Bluebell Wood and we plan to continue working, in partnership with the States, on this site for many years to come,’ she said.
‘It’s a big challenge as stinking onions are dominating many areas but if we do nothing, we will lose Bluebell Wood for future generations.’
Allium triquetrum, commonly known as stinking onions or three-cornered garlic, is an invasive non-native plant. Each year it spreads, with some areas now having more white flowers than blue.
Growing concerned, Miss Salmon and Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services decided to take action and a small, controlled trial saw stinking onion bulbs removed from an area in the wood in November.
At that time stinking onion leaves were already showing. Bluebell leaves grow later.
Stinking onion bulbs are found nearer the surface than bluebell, so trowels were used to gently penetrate the soil and remove the stinking onion bulbs without disturbing the deeper bluebells.
Five work parties took place, totalling 150 hours of work, and three one-tonne bags were filled with thousands of stinking onion bulbs.
GCV then needed to wait until spring to see the results of the trial.
The trial site was monitored regularly and GCV members were delighted when bluebells started to appear in large numbers.
States natural environment director Jim Robinson the trial had gone well.
‘We are excited with the results of this trial which are looking very promising, although it may be several years before the full impact is seen,’ he said.
‘Given the sensitivity of the site we are really pleased that GCV are using their expertise and knowledge to tackle the invasive stinking onion plant in this iconic wood.
‘We are asking the public to play their part by sticking to the paths all year round and not to remove stinking onion themselves as, if not done carefully, it may have a negative impact on the bluebells too.’
GCV and ACLMS have further stinking onion clearances planned for October and November 2023.
The work will focus on retaining the purity of the core areas of bluebells by removing nearby stinking onions.
Details of these work parties will be given nearer the time.
