GUNNERA CONTROL
Gunnera tinctoria, also known as 'giant rhubarb' or 'Chilean rhubarb', is an invasive species known to be present in the Pairc Estate.
A robust perennial plant capable of growing up to 2m tall, Gunnera is easily recognisable by its very large leaves, rough stalks and distinctive seed heads. The plant is not dangerous to human or animal health, but its vigorous growth habit in the wet conditions of the Western Isles climate can lead it to crowd out native vegetation, block up drainage ditches and lead to erosion where it leaves bare ground after dying back in winter. It forms a spreading root system of rhizomes that can lead it to rapidly colonise areas of ground and produces massive numbers of seeds after successfully flowering, which allow it to spread quickly in a short space of time.
All of these factors make control difficult, however the Pairc Trust is fortunate to be working with Community Land Outer Hebrides to fund professional control of Gunnera by licensed operators on the Estate. If you know that Gunnera is present on your property, or are aware of it on public land within the Estate, please let us know via our Gunnera Reporting Form below:
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