Pink rhododendron plant takes over Smithills Estate

Rhododendron ponticum, bursting into bright colour at this time of year, has been spreading widely across the Smithills Estate for years, crowding out native species.

Rhododendron on Smithills trail (Image: NQ)

The Trailblazers, volunteers working in the area, say the plant’s thick growth is “choking” the woodland floor and leaving little room for other plant life to survive.

Work uncovers water feature on the estate after plants removed (Image: NQ)

Trailblazer Alan Cowardine said: “The problem with the rhododendron is it’s got a thick foliage. “No light gets to the ground, so nothing else can survive.

“So that could be creatures like earthworms, beetles, any flies, anything like that. We’ve actually seen nothing since we’ve been pulling out the rhododendrons.”

The plant spreads aggressively and is difficult to control once established.

Work is underway to control the plethora of out-of-control rhododendron bushes and Trailblazers are hopeful the can limit its growth, even if hedges found all over the trail are made mostly out of the daunting yet manageable rhododendron.

Rhododendron can cause illness and vomiting when eaten, but while the risks to people and pets are considered low, volunteers say the plant should not be consumed.

Mr Cowardine added: “Each plant will produce a million seeds, then the roots form and it spreads as well, so it’s not a good thing to have and it’s a toxic plant as well.”

“It is toxic, but you’d have to physically eat it, but it’s not good for the environment full stop.”

Smithills’ Woodland, which spans for acres and is a walking route for locals, is maintained every Monday by the Trailblazers.

Jean Turner (Image: NQ)

Each week, they come together to stay on top of plant life, create walkways for visitors and restore once neat areas, such as ponds.

They have had help from local organisations such as Bolton Council, Friends of Smithills hall, places of education, and Bolton Green Umbrella to name a few.

Volunteer at work (Image: NQ)

The plant’s impact goes beyond visibility, affecting the balance of the wider ecosystem.

Jean Turner, Chair of Edgworth and District Horticultural Society, said: “The problem we’ve got is rhododendron ponticum, a beautiful flower but deadly to the environment.

“Anything underneath a rhododendron bush will die because the rhododendrons have in themselves a chemical which kills or inhibits any growth.

“The rhododendron plant is poisonous to many animals, so sheep and cows won’t graze on it. I suppose the leaves don’t look very appetising, but you would take precautions.”

Efforts to remove the plant are ongoing, with volunteers working to dig out roots and prevent regrowth.

They hope that over time clearing the rhododendron will allow native plants and wildlife to return to help the woodland flourish.