Contextual: Ramblings On Rhododendron Removal

Ramblings on Rhododendron Removal is a video essay on just that, rhododendron removal. I do a bit of voluntary work every now and again, and one of the topics that comes up repeatedly is to do with rhododendrons. They are invasive shrubs and a pain for people who want to conserve UK wildlife, as the video looks at.

My favourite section is about the Lundy cabbage. I still find the idea of cliff-side rhododendron removal really cool. I also have to thank Rosie Ellis, a warden on Lundy Island, for her contribution via email. If you want to learn more about Lundy during lockdown, the YouTube channel Discover Lundy is a great place to find webinars about just that.

I couldn't quite justify a trip to Lundy, so instead the log I was sitting on was instead filmed at Buchan Country Park.

Last, but not least, I owe a huge thanks to the Mary Gillham Archive Project. This is what I am going to recommend as this post's further reading. Dr Mary Gillham was a brilliant naturalist whose life work has been preserved by the project. Her photos are available under Creative Commons, and I used some of them in the video. Go take ten minutes or more to browse the archives online, you won't regret it.

Photograph of Lundy's Rhodos taken by Mary Gillham, used under CC2.0

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