Alarm Bells for Bluebells Update
12 January 2009
The UK is home to about half the world's population of the Bluebell, with Scotland being its most northerly habitat. Over recent years however, the British Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), sometimes known as the Wild Hyacinth in Scotland, has declined in abundance and is now classed as an endangered species. The two main causes of this decline are the loss of suitable woodland habitat and hybridisation with the non-native Spanish Bluebell.
In order to rectify the situation , the Central Scotland Forest Trust conceived and implemented the Alarm Bells for Bluebells Campaign to raise awareness of the plight of the British Bluebell and to encourage more people to plant and look after the native variety rather than the Spanish Bluebell.
It ran throughout 2008, with a range of activities taking place from Spring and Autumn bulb planting events to leaflet drops, a photograph competition and bulb give-aways at major and local community events. In addition, there was a high-profile marketing campaign, including the campaign's launch at the Falkirk Wheel which was attended by partners, conservation bodies and MSPs and appeared in the national and local press, and on radio stations and the BBC.
Since the launch in April 2008, over 30,000 information leaflets have been distributed around Central Scotland, and the Trust organised 19 community and school planting events across the Central Scotland Forest area, with several others conducted by partners outwith the Forest (e.g. BTCV, Scottish Woodland Trust and Forth Environment Link). By mid-November, at the end of the autumn planting events, a total of 48,500 native Bluebell bulbs had been planted in Central Scotland! We have had stands at BIG in Falkirk, the Royal Highland Show, the Kirkintilloch Canal Festival and in-store environmental days at IKEA to raise awareness of the campaign and give away bulbs. The campaign has also featured in local and national press, including the Scotsman, Real Radio and the BBC website.
Finally, during April and May 2009, volunteers have agreed to re-visit the areas planted in 2008 to monitor the success of their efforts.
